Galway Summer Festival Tuesday evening Press Release
The romance of Galway continued before a crowd of 26,354 on Tuesday evening when 25/1 outsider Incline landed a thrilling Tote Galway Mile Handicap for rookie Donegal trainer Ray McGlinchey and jockey Davy Moran.
Having turned into the straight with plenty to do, the Danehill-sired winner came with a sustained run to beat Crooked Throw by a short-head. Absolute Image finished a further head away in third.
McGlinchey, who has been training for six years and has just 12 horses under his care at present, was clearly delighted in the winner’s enclosure.
He said: “This race has been the plan since last Christmas. I always told the owners (Paul and Kevin Crossan) there was a big race in this horse and today was the day. We were very lucky to get a run and it looked to be touch and go at declaration time yesterday, but he made it in the end. He’s in again on Sunday and might make a quick reappearance.”
For winning jockey Davy Moran it was also an occasion to savour.
“It’s a fabulous feeling to have won a big race like that at Galway. A dream come true in fact. In fairness to the winning connections, they told me he wouldn’t be far away and thank God they were right,” revealed the Tipperary-born jockey who is attached to Jim Bolger’s Coolcullen stables.
Locally-born Pat Fahy confessed to being pleasantly surprised after his 25/1 shot My Valley initiated a double for the Carlow-based trainer when running out a shock winner of the two-mile Tote Jackpot Handicap.
Shane Gorey had the mount on the daughter of Saddlers’ Hall, who kept pulling out more in the closing stages to deny the Davy Condon-ridden Mountain Snow by half a length.
“I can’t believe it,” said Fahy, who added “She won her bumper and did have a good run behind Impudent at Leopardstown. We were lucky to get into this race today and that’s one thing you need to have around here is plenty of luck.”
There was further good news for the Galway-born handler as Hampshire gave him an evening to remember when coming home a clear-cut winner of the Tote Telebet 1850 238 669 Handicap.
Sixth over a mile at Leopardstown last time, this son of Green Desert stayed on best on the uphill climb to the post for Pat Smullen to see off Dafaroun by half a length to seal Fahy’s double.
“He didn’t stay at Leopardstown so we decieded to drop him back in trip and it worked.”
Smullen had earlier initiated a riding double when his mount Campfire Glow put up a smart performance to beat Sleeveless by four and a half lengths in the seven furlongs fillies' maiden.
Pat Smullen was always comfortable aboard the Dr Ronan Lambe-owned daughter of Invincible Spirit who may well go onto better things.
Winning trainer Dermot Weld said: “She’s a talented, laid-back filly that shows more on the racetrack than she does at home. We might let her take her chance in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday week.”
Thirteen went to post for the concluding Tote European E.B.F. Maiden with victory going to the Donal Kinsella-trained Lonesome Maverick, who was given a dashing ride by Pat Shanahan to deny Downhill Skier by three lengths.
Champion jockey Ruby Walsh opened his Galway 2007 account when steering Tony Martin’s Corrick Bridge to a gutsy two-length success over Desert Abbey in the opening two-mile Tote Placepot Races 1 to 6 Maiden Hurdle.
Martin wasn’t present but Walsh, who brought the Seamus Ross-owned grey with a late surge on the wide outside, revealed: “This horse kept on well when I popped him the question. He’s just the type you need for a summer maiden hurdle like this.”
Recent Midlands Grand National winner First Row made it two wins on the bounce when getting up close home to land the McDonogh Properties Chase.
Last year’s Galway Plate hero Roger Loughran was seen at his strongest when forcing the five-year-old up in the dying strides to pip 6/4 favourite Adamant Approach by half a length.
Dessie Hughes, who trains the winner for the Busted Boys Syndicate, was delighted with the performance. He confessed: “He looked beaten at the top of the hill, but he’s a real battler. We had thought about running in the Galway Plate but we knew he’d be balloted out of that so we ran here instead. He’ll definitely be entered for the Plate next year.”
Tote Turnover €1,293,347 (2007) €1,198,997 (2006)
Bookmakers Turnover €3,052,652 (2007) €3,186,466 (2006)
Having turned into the straight with plenty to do, the Danehill-sired winner came with a sustained run to beat Crooked Throw by a short-head. Absolute Image finished a further head away in third.
McGlinchey, who has been training for six years and has just 12 horses under his care at present, was clearly delighted in the winner’s enclosure.
He said: “This race has been the plan since last Christmas. I always told the owners (Paul and Kevin Crossan) there was a big race in this horse and today was the day. We were very lucky to get a run and it looked to be touch and go at declaration time yesterday, but he made it in the end. He’s in again on Sunday and might make a quick reappearance.”
For winning jockey Davy Moran it was also an occasion to savour.
“It’s a fabulous feeling to have won a big race like that at Galway. A dream come true in fact. In fairness to the winning connections, they told me he wouldn’t be far away and thank God they were right,” revealed the Tipperary-born jockey who is attached to Jim Bolger’s Coolcullen stables.
Locally-born Pat Fahy confessed to being pleasantly surprised after his 25/1 shot My Valley initiated a double for the Carlow-based trainer when running out a shock winner of the two-mile Tote Jackpot Handicap.
Shane Gorey had the mount on the daughter of Saddlers’ Hall, who kept pulling out more in the closing stages to deny the Davy Condon-ridden Mountain Snow by half a length.
“I can’t believe it,” said Fahy, who added “She won her bumper and did have a good run behind Impudent at Leopardstown. We were lucky to get into this race today and that’s one thing you need to have around here is plenty of luck.”
There was further good news for the Galway-born handler as Hampshire gave him an evening to remember when coming home a clear-cut winner of the Tote Telebet 1850 238 669 Handicap.
Sixth over a mile at Leopardstown last time, this son of Green Desert stayed on best on the uphill climb to the post for Pat Smullen to see off Dafaroun by half a length to seal Fahy’s double.
“He didn’t stay at Leopardstown so we decieded to drop him back in trip and it worked.”
Smullen had earlier initiated a riding double when his mount Campfire Glow put up a smart performance to beat Sleeveless by four and a half lengths in the seven furlongs fillies' maiden.
Pat Smullen was always comfortable aboard the Dr Ronan Lambe-owned daughter of Invincible Spirit who may well go onto better things.
Winning trainer Dermot Weld said: “She’s a talented, laid-back filly that shows more on the racetrack than she does at home. We might let her take her chance in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday week.”
Thirteen went to post for the concluding Tote European E.B.F. Maiden with victory going to the Donal Kinsella-trained Lonesome Maverick, who was given a dashing ride by Pat Shanahan to deny Downhill Skier by three lengths.
Champion jockey Ruby Walsh opened his Galway 2007 account when steering Tony Martin’s Corrick Bridge to a gutsy two-length success over Desert Abbey in the opening two-mile Tote Placepot Races 1 to 6 Maiden Hurdle.
Martin wasn’t present but Walsh, who brought the Seamus Ross-owned grey with a late surge on the wide outside, revealed: “This horse kept on well when I popped him the question. He’s just the type you need for a summer maiden hurdle like this.”
Recent Midlands Grand National winner First Row made it two wins on the bounce when getting up close home to land the McDonogh Properties Chase.
Last year’s Galway Plate hero Roger Loughran was seen at his strongest when forcing the five-year-old up in the dying strides to pip 6/4 favourite Adamant Approach by half a length.
Dessie Hughes, who trains the winner for the Busted Boys Syndicate, was delighted with the performance. He confessed: “He looked beaten at the top of the hill, but he’s a real battler. We had thought about running in the Galway Plate but we knew he’d be balloted out of that so we ran here instead. He’ll definitely be entered for the Plate next year.”
Tote Turnover €1,293,347 (2007) €1,198,997 (2006)
Bookmakers Turnover €3,052,652 (2007) €3,186,466 (2006)