Stable companions Clondaw Warrior and Shaneshill do battle for the second time in the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park on Thursday.

Royal Ascot and Galway Hurdle hero Clondaw Warrior stepped up to Grade One level for the first time over jumps in last month's Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown and finished powerfully to fill the runner-up spot behind fellow Willie Mullins inmate Vroum Vroum Mag.

Shaneshill was far from done with when coming to grief at the final flight in the same contest and the trainer's son, Patrick Mullins, feels the two could battle out the finish in this Grade Two contest.

"Clondaw Warrior ran a big race over Christmas and conditions look to be in his favour," said Mullins.

"He's been an amazing horse and this would look a good opportunity for him.

"Shaneshill was running very well when he came down and seems to have come out of that fine.

"He'll like the drying ground as well and is nearly always in the first three. Hopefully he can get a clear round and run a big race again."

Noel Meade's Christmas Hurdle third Snow Falcon also renews rivalries, as do the sixth and seventh, De Plotting Shed and Milsean.

Meade said: "Snow Falcon is working well and is in good form. There isn't much between him and Willie's two on running at Leopardstown and it should be a good race."

De Plotting Shed's trainer Gordon Elliott also saddles Dedigout, who won this race in 2015 when trained by Tony Martin, and he completes the six-strong field.