Willie Mullins saddles a strong team of four in the Connacht Hotel (Q.R) Handicap, as he bids to win the opening day highlight at Galway for the third successive year.

Interestingly Patrick Mullins has yet to win this prestigious contest and he will be aboard Legal Spin who was a good second on his return to action at the Curragh last month.

The other Closutton representatives are Royal Illusion Great White Shark and Mr Adjudicator with the latter likely to go off favourite under Richie Deegan.

Successful in the Grade Two Prix la Barka on his penultimate outing, the classy five-year-old was last seen finishing third to Royal Illusion at Bellewstown. Arctic Fire is another high-class sort in the line-up and he won the Grade One Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in 2015, while also claiming the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2017.

A winner on his Flat debut at Killarney in May, he was last seen finishing a good sixth at Royal Ascot on his most recent start.

The Tony Martin pair of Mr Everest and Newcross with Declan Lavery and Richie Harding aboard respectively, are also likely to prove popular with punters.

The former won the November Handicap at Naas last season, while the latter was successful on his most recent outing at Listowel. Baba Boom who hasn’t been seen since winning at Ballybrit 12 months ago, is an interesting contender with Derek O’Connor booked to ride, while others to keep on side in this ultra-competitive contest are Dalton Highway Neverushacon and Shakespear’sgalley.