AN OTHERWISE ordinary midweek fixture at Fairyhouse today is enlivened by the presence of Galileo’s Choice, who has a Cheltenham warm-up in the novice hurdle.
Dermot Weld’s high-class dual-purpose performer is among the market leaders for next month’s Supreme Hurdle despite having had just two career starts over flights to date.
The second of those, however, saw him chase home Sous Les Cieux in the Grade One Royal Bond here in December on a day of some very testing ground conditions.
For a horse capable of winning the Group Three Kilternan Stakes over 10 furlongs on the flat last September, better ground should suit much more, something the Cheltenham odds calculators are no doubt taking into account.
Galileo’s Choice faces just four opponents today, but one of them is Terminal, who won his first start in Ireland last month and carries a big reputation from Willie Mullins’s yard.
This afternoon’s ground should be no trouble to the French-bred but Galileo’s Choice should still have too much class for him.
The all-conquering Mullins team may still be on the mark though as the course winner Dr Machini returns to Fairyhouse for the bumper.
Patrick Mullins is also on board Primroseandblue in the opening maiden hurdle and the Gowran bumper winner can go one better than his second to Snow Spell last time out.
