Walsh returns on Easy Game at Galway Ruby Walsh returns to the saddle at Galway on Monday and partners Easy Game in the opening Galmont Hotel & Galway Bay Hotel Novice Hurdle. Out of action since breaking a leg at the Cheltenham Festival in March, Walsh teams up with his boss Willie Mullins for the ride on Easy Game. An 80,000 euro purchase from France, this son of Barastraight came home seven and a half lengths to the good on his Irish debut at Killarney, and will be expected to follow up. Mullins also saddles Shoulda Lied and Cool Colonnade in this Festival curtain-raiser, and they both look to have solid each-way claims, while Devil’s Glen is another leading contender for Alan Fleming. The Easyfix Handicap Hurdle is a much more competitive affair, with 20 runners set to take part in this extended two-mile contest. Denis Hogan saddles a quarter of the field, and takes the ride on Golden Poet who was successful at Kilbeggan in June. Having won this race in 2014 with Kallelshan, Hogan is also represented by Storm Rising, Mezajy, Bensachuine, and Foxy Lass. Viking Hoard is a very interesting contender down the bottom of the handicap for Charles Byrnes. The four-year-old gelding blitzed his rivals at Killarney recently, and will again be ridden by Kevin Brouder who takes off a valuable 7lb. The focus switches to the level in the Claregalwayhotel.ie Irish EBF Maiden, with Third World and Mount Tabora the front-runners. The Aidan O’Brien trained Mount Tabora went down by just a head at the Curragh recently, and is tried in blinkers for the first time, while Third World ran a race full of promise when fourth on debut in that same Curragh contest. Dermot Weld is responsible for Third World, and he also saddles Tashman in the Claytonhotelgalway.ie Handicap. Placed on two of his four starts to date, the son of Excelebration makes his debut in handicap company and is fitted with a visor for the first time. Weld has fellow handicap debutant Imrana in the Eventus Handicap, with this one also fitted with a first-time visor. Successful at Limerick on her second start, the Azamour filly is sure to give a good account of herself, with the hat-trick-seeking Baba Boom an obvious danger. The concluding Monami Construction INH Flat Race is yet another competitive affair, with Royal Rendezvous, Neptune, Exit Poll, Zero Ten and Batcio the leading hopes.
