Sole Pretender© Photo Healy Racing
Sole Pretender tops a maximum field of 20 in the Guinness Galway Hurdle.
Norman Lee’s five-year-old will attempt to emulate Sharjah, who carried a welter burden to success 12 months ago.
While Sharjah is not back to defend his title on Thursday, his trainer Willie Mullins is well represented with four runners — Sayo, Stratum, Riven Light and Shanning.
Tony Martin is another trainer with a good recent record in the race — Thomas Edison and Quick Jack having won successive renewals in 2014 and 2015 — and he runs Tudor City and Golden Spear.
Joseph O’Brien holds a strong hand with Band Of Outlaws and Gardens Of Babylon, while Gordon Elliott runs both Chosen Mate and Tombstone.
Gavin Cromwell has been enjoying a fruitful spell and is represented by Ejayteekay and Ming Dynasty — with John McConnell’s Pearl Of The West and Play The Game engaged too.
The is only one challenger from Britain, Sophie Leech’s Garo De Juilley.
There are three reserves, Avenir D’Une Vie, Star Maker and Light That.
