Trainer says he'll be 'sleeping in the back of the van' after big Galway win
Peter Lawlor, who is based in Co Wicklow, was celebrating after Summer Snow won the caulfieldindustrial.com Handicap under jockey Rory Cleary on Tuesday evening at odds of 8/1.
The trainer admitted he was heading straight to the bar to celebrate the win and said he would sleep in the back of his van if he had to.
He told Racing TV: "I can't believe it, Galway Festival, restricted trainer, a few horses, taking on the big guys and beating them. You can't beat it.
"I'm hoarse again. Every odd winner I get, I just roar them home and I just can't believe it.
"I haven't booked in anywhere yet, so I'm not going home. Feck me, I can't believe it. I'll sleep in the back of the van now tonight. I'm not going home.
"I'm just going straight to the bar now. Good luck to anyone around me. I'll tell ye that. I just can't believe it. I'm over the moon.
"I'm looking at the Galway Races since I was a young fella and I'm not young anymore, but all that time, I never thought I'd have a licence first of all and have a runner then but anyone out there who has a dream, can follow it and achieve it and take on everyone.
"The only thing stopping anyone is themselves. I'll enter her up in a big race the next time and sure I'll be twice as nervous again but I'll challenge myself the whole time."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Sportsguide: All-Ireland Ladies football finals, Galway Races and Lions v Australia
Sportsguide: All-Ireland Ladies football finals, Galway Races and Lions v Australia It is another action packed weekend of sport with the All-Ireland ladies football finals, the Galway Races and the final game in the 2025 British and Irish Lions Tour - all you need to know here.
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Jessica Harrington's Hotazhell goes for Grade One US glory in $750,000 Saratoga Derby
Jessica Harrington has a handful of runners for this weekend's Galway festival action, although her primary focus is sure to be on potential Grade One glory in the US on Saturday. Morning line betting suggests Harrington has found a prime top-flight opportunity for Hotazhell, who lines up in the $750,000 (€649,000) Saratoga Derby on the prestigious Whitney Stakes card. The colt that beat Delacroix to Futurity success as a two-year-old was behind his old rival in Sandown's Eclipse, before which he ran third to Field Of Gold in the Irish Guineas. It's a level of form that has encouraged local odds of as short as 7/5 about Hotazhell emerging on top in the nine-runner contest. READ MORE Shane Foley is in Upstate New York for the ride, and Harrington's daughter and assistant Kate told local media: 'He came out of Irish Guineas very well and ran very respectably in the Eclipse, coming back at them at the line. He seems to have travelled over to the States very well.' Other Irish interest in the 10-furlong contest will come from Adrian Murray's Tiberius Thunder, who will have Frankie Dettori on his back. The Italian's mount ran fourth to Trinity College at Royal Ascot on his last appearance. Among the local hopes are Belmont Derby winner Test Score and Tiztastic, who won the Louisiana Derby on dirt earlier this year. Dylan Browne McMonagle on Goodie Two Shoes wins the Darley Irish EBF Stanerra Stakes at Fairyhouse in July. Photograph: Lorraine O'Sullivan/INPHO Joseph O'Brien 's State Of Rest won the Saratoga Derby in 2021, but the trainer's overseas interests on Saturday stretch no further than Goodwood, where Goodie Two Shoes lines up in the Group Two Lillie Langtry Stakes. The JP McManus-owned mare, formerly campaigned over hurdles and fences, has taken her form on the flat to another level and landed the Stanerra Stakes at Fairyhouse last time. 'We are a little worried about the rain, so we'll be taking a watching brief on that, but she's in good shape and has prepared well for the race,' O'Brien said. 'Since coming back to the Flat she has really taken her form to another level over staying distances, and we'll be trying to make her a Group Two winner after winning a Group Three last time.' Saturday's €110,000 feature at Galway is the BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle where the remarkable Teed Up tries for a seventh course victory. The latest of these came in a flat race on Wednesday when Emmet Mullins's stalwart overcame all but coming down at a critical point to overhaul Shoda. Teed Up, ridden by Conor Clarke, on the way to winning the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at the 2023 Galway festival. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Jockey Ronan Whelan emerged from it with a 10-day ban for careless riding after Teed Up met with serious interference. But the horse, acclaimed by his trainer as 'a soldier', was pluck itself and that can see him go close again over flights. Mullins has four in the feature, but relies solely on Toll Stone in the preceding hurdle. Another with proven course form, he failed to land a blow in Monday night's amateur highlight and is worth another shot. The Ballydoyle colt Action, a half-brother to this season's dual-Derby hero Lambourn, will be hard to beat in the juvenile maiden on the back of his Curragh debut behind two stable companions. Tuesday's big Mile winner Dunum is back on familiar territory for Sunday's festival highlight, the Ahonoora Handicap. Natalia Lupini's stable star won this in 2023 and was third last year. Dunum is raised 7lbs for his narrow defeat of Bear Profit earlier in the week and that could make his job difficult over the shorter trip. Princess Child was unlucky over course and distance on Thursday when just pipped in a Listed contest and may go one better.
The 42
10 hours ago
- The 42
Ndaawi awarded Galway Hurdle in dramatic circumstances
LAST YEAR'S runner-up, Ndaawi, was called the winner of the Guinness Galway Hurdle after first past the post Helvic Dream was demoted by the stewards. It is 20 years since trainer Noel Meade saddled his most recent winner of the Ballybrit highlight in More Rainbows, but he had come close on several occasions since, while Ndaawi's trainer Gordon Elliott had never won it previously. Helvic Dream, a Group One winner on the Flat for Meade in the 2021 Tattersalls Gold Cup, was an 8-1 shot in the hands of Donagh Meyler and settled down to fight it out with the 13-2 shot Ndaawi and Jack Kennedy in the home straight. However, the pair did come close together all the way up the run-in as both horses and jockeys gave their all, with Ndaawi short of room against the far rail, and while Helvic Dream passed the post a head in front, the stewards felt the interference was significant enough to reverse the placings. Advertisement Elliott, completing a big-race double after landing Wednesday's Galway Plate with Western Fold, said: 'We have won most of the big handicaps, so this is the race I wanted to win, although it is not a nice way to win. 'Noel is one of my greatest friends, and there isn't a day that goes by that we don't talk and we have great banter, but that's the way it goes, unfortunately. 'The stewards have their jobs to do, Jack said it straightaway after the race, and I was talking to Ruby (Walsh) as well, and he felt we would definitely get it. 'It is unbelievable to win the two big races here this week, and the horses have all run well, I can't believe it.' On future plans for Ndaawi, the trainer added: 'There is a $150,000 Flat race in America for him in October now.' Meade later indicated he will appeal the decision. He told Racing TV: 'I didn't think we'd lose it, considering the race and considering Jack didn't have to stop riding. 'I do believe in my heart and soul it's the wrong decision and I will appeal it.'
