Galway Friday Evening Press Release

The magic of Galway’s Summer Festival continued unabated on Friday evening with over 31,547 patrons(up 3,200 on last year) witnessing in-form jockey Declan McDonogh  record a treble that included success aboard  9/1 shot, Kevkat, in the featured 12 furlong €70,000 Guinness Handicap.

Trained in Co Kilkenny by Eoin Griffin, the winner hit for home a furlong down and found plenty when needed to hold the effort of 20/1 outsider, Le Leopard, by a neck.

Kieren Fallon’s on board the gambled-on 10/11favouirte, Hitchcock, had to settle for third a further length in rear, and would have to be deemed an unlucky loser, having been denied a clear passage in the closing stages.

Griffin revealed: “I’d have been more confident if things had been going better for me here this week, but it’s nice to finish with a winner.  We’ll probably head to Tralee with him now.”

McDonogh opened his account when guiding the Sir Mark Prescott-trained English raider, Elusive Dream, to an effortless success in the St Jame’s Gate Race.

Sent off a restrictive 4/9 favourite, the Cheveley Park Stud-owned son of Rainbow Quest stretched right away in the closing stages to beat Peak Of Perfection by 14 lengths.

Prescott wasn’t present but his representative, Kelly Ridden, commented: “He was good there and did his job very easily.”

McDonogh’s hat-trick, which puts him level on the 51-winner mark with Johnny Murtagh at the head of the Jockeys’ table, was completed in the 12 furlong 1759 European Breeders Fund Maiden where the  Kevin Prendergast-trained  4/1 shot, Rajeh, stuck his neck out well close home to beat Flare Star(Willie Supple) by a length and a quarter.

McDonogh commented on the Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned colt:  “This is an improving horse and he appreciated the hill. He could be very good.”

Ruby Walsh has also been in terrific form this week and he notched-up his fourth success of the meeting, so-far, as top-weight, Euro Leader, justified 7/4 favouritism in the Tony O’Malley Memorial Handicap Chase.

Settled off the pace, the winner crept into it off the home bend and came home best to see off runner-up, Prince Of Pleasure, by eight lengths.

Mullins was delighted with the return to form of the winner, who disappointed somewhat when unplaced in Monday’s GPT Handicap.  He said: “That was great. He jumped very well and Ruby (Walsh) said he was much braver at his fences today. We’ll probably head to Tralee and Listowel with him now, but the Paddy Power Chase at Cheltenham in November is likely to be his main target.”

Lorna’s Star (8/1-4/1) landed a nice touch for the in-from combination of trainer Francis Flood and jockey James O’Farrell - successful with P’tit Fute in the GPT Handicap on Monday Night - when beating Annameadle(Kevin Power) by five lengths in the opening Guinness(Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle.

Winning trainer Flood was absent but his son, Fran, revealed: “They went a good gallop today and that was a big help to her. She’s been knocking on the door and it’s always nice to win here. She’s come back with a gash to her leg, but it looks worse than it is and, hopefully, a few stitches should solve the problem.”

Careless Abandon, second here on Monday, went one better this time round when  the Willie Supple-ridden 10/1 shot had two lengths to spare over Charlie Swan’s, Cabo, in the one-mile Arthur Guinness Handicap.

Andy Oliver, former assistant to UK handler Mark Johnson, trains the winner at his Tyrone yard for his mother, Patricia. He said: “It was well worth the four and a half hour journey to get here. I was afraid of her low draw, but she did it well.”

Kerry-born Supple went on to complete a double 35 minutes later when Frank Ennis’ 4/6 shot, Ferneley,  readily landed the odds in the concluding seven-furlong Guinness Auction Maiden

Attendance

2006: 31,547
2005: 28,341

Tote:

2006: €1,151,928
2005: €1,102,007

Bookmakers

2006: €3,549,795
2005: €2,823,310