Tipperary winners galore at bumper Galway racing festival

Aidan O'Brien landed the colts’ two-year-old maiden on the opening day of the Galway festival on Monday with the Wayne Lordan-ridden Rock Of Cashel. A 3/1 chance, he made all the running and went clear from the furlong-pole to win by two and a quarter lengths from the Paddy Twomey-trained Admiral Churchill, another at odds of 3/1. Dermot Weld’s 13/8 favourite Truth Be Told could only manage fourth place.

Apprentice Wayne Hassett landed the biggest winner of his fledgling career when partnering the Joseph O'Brien-trained Mexicali Rose to win the Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap at Galway on Tuesday.

At odds of 12/1, the Kevin Blake-owned four-year-old was never far off the leaders and she led inside the final furlong to pip the Jessica Harrington-trained Norwalk Havoc and Shane Foley by a neck. Denis Hogan and Rachael Blackmore landed their first winner of the 2024 Galway festival as 6/4 favourite Thecompanysergeant opened his account over fences in the two and a quarter-mile beginners’ chase.

The Martin Cooney-owned seven-year-old became only the second winning favourite of this year’s festival with a gutsy one and three-part of a length win over the Emmet Mullins-trained 9/4 chance Merlin Giant. Aidan O'Brien added to his win earlier in the day with Kyprios at Goodwood as Bubbling landed the seven-furlong fillies’ maiden, a second success at Galway for the champion trainer and Wayne Lordan.

The Corkman brought the strong 13/8 favourite home a five-length winner from Paddy Twomey’s 15/8 shot Lady Marien with the Andy Slattery-trained 16/1 chance Abazaami only a neck away in third place.

Joe Murphy and Gary Carroll both registered their first winner of the week when 10/1 chance Grey Leader battled well to land the eight-furlong handicap at Galway on Thursday. The Tony Auld-owned four-year-old dug deep in the straight and gamely held the Gerry Keane-trained 11/4 favourite Genuine Article by half a length.

Aidan O'Brien and Wayne Lordan brought their tallies at Galway to three as Andromeda made much of the running to land the 12-furlong fillies’ maiden on Friday evening. A strong 13/8 favourite, she raced clear early in the straight to beat the Jessica Harrington-trained 7/2 shot Riviera Queen by four lengths.

O'Brien and Lordan made it four wins apiece as 1/2 favourite Puppet Master easily landed the eight-furlong maiden for two-year-olds at Galway on Saturday. Mirroring what Andromeda had done on the previous evening, Puppet Master raced clear well over a furlong from the finish to score by an identical margin, a result that saw Lordan take the week’s leading Flat jockey title.

Ben Coen gave County Kildare trainer Andrew Kinirons his second winner of the week when partnering Flying Bay to win the eight-furlong maiden for three and four-year-olds.

The 15/2 chance readily overcame an unfavourable wide draw to lead after just a furlong and he made the best of his way home to win by half a length from the Michael Halford & Tracey Collins-trained 11/2 shot Vadali. Irish Grand National-winning trainer Tom Gibney landed a notable success with the Leonard Kinsella-owned Imposing Supreme which scored his fourth Galway Festival win when taking the seven-furlong handicap.

Ridden by Gavin Ryan, the 4/1 favourite raced up with the pace and edged ahead of Ado McGuinness’ front-runner Eddie G inside the final furlong to win by half a length.

Imposing Supreme, a six-time winner in all, scored at Galway in 2019 and was twice a winner at the Festival in 2021. In all, 30 different trainers and 39 different jockeys had winners across the seven days this year.

Upcoming Fixtures

Roscommon – Tuesday. August 6 (First Race 5pm)

Wexford – Wednesday, August 7 (First Race 4.45pm)

Sligo – Wednesday, August 7 (First Race 5pm)

Sligo – Thursday, August 8 (First Race 5.05pm)

Leopardstown – Thursday, August 8 (First Race 5.22pm)

Wexford – Friday, August 9 (First Race 5.30pm)

Tipperary – Friday, August 9 (First Race 4.45pm)

Curragh – Saturday, August 10 (First Race 1.45pm)

Kilbeggan – Saturday, August 10 (First Race 5.30pm)

Downpatrick – Sunday, August 11 (First Race 2.18pm)