THERE is an unusual rematch on the flat between the Guinness Galway Hurdle 1-2 in Sunday’s Colm White Bookmaker Beggar’s End Premier Handicap (4.15) at Naas, as Putapoundinthejar faces off again with the Latta family’s star mare Thisistheway - part of an 18-strong field for the €100,000 staying prize.

It’s almost 10 years since Joe Murphy’s popular Swamp Fox went from finishing second in the Galway Hurdle to winning this two-mile event in the same season back in 2017. Thisistheway finished fourth to this year’s Ballybrit winner in her Bellewstown prep, so it will be the third time in three months that she faces off against Tony Martin’s versatile performer.

“We can’t get away from him!” quipped Andrew Latta.

The former winner of the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final finished a cracking second to Sunday’s rival Helvic Dream in a valuable Listowel Harvest Festival handicap on her latest start.

“She’s had a great 12 months,” Latta told The Irish Field. “We’ve finished second in three big handicaps at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, Galway and Listowel, and she’s got four nice pieces of blacktype from her last six runs over hurdles. She’s been great through the year. This will be her last run before she gets a bit of a break, because she has been busy.”

Thisistheway remains unexposed on the level. She will be making only her fourth flat appearance and debuts in handicap company under capable 5lb claimer Paddy McGettigan.

“There’s a chance this might just be one run too many for her, but I think she’s on a nice mark on the flat and we’re going to take our chance” Latta added.

“After this, the plan will be to freshen up and maybe come back for the Dublin Racing Festival. I think something like the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham could be an ideal type of race for her too.”