Zanahiyr delivers the goods at Galway Festival
Third in the 2023 Champion Hurdle, Gordon Elliott's one-time Triumph Hurdle favourite was third in the Galway Plate last year and was making his second appearance of the week at the Ballybrit track after finishing seventh and well held in this year's feature chase.
Sent off 9-4 in the hands of Jack Kennedy, this was far from an easy assignment with Willie Mullins' Blood Diamond the odds-on favourite, but the eight-year-old rolled back the years to strike for the first time since shedding his maiden status over fences in February 2024.
Kennedy said: "Delighted for the horse. He's been a great horse, placed in Champion Hurdles and it's nice for him to get his head in front today.
"I was happy enough to tip away in front, I didn't go mad, and it worked out well.
"He was brilliant at the last two in the dip and is better when you are going on with him and not getting in too tight.
"It's been a great week."
Elsewhere John McConnell's Ballystone kept on well to win in the Kenny Galway Peugeot Handicap Hurdle.
It was a dream success for his jockey Alex Harvey who was full of praise for the 14-1 scorer.
Harvey said: "He's a lovely horse, very genuine. I got a lovely run around on the inside and it was just a matter of holding onto him and pressing the button.
"He put his head down on the run-in and galloped away to the line.
"The ground was a question as he wants a bit of nicer ground. To be honest it's just the slow side of good bar the straight which is borderline heavy.
"He's progressive and I can't wait to see him over a fence.
"I've been coming here since I was a kid and you dream about having a winner so to have two in the week is unbelievable."
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