Nans View shades victory in Galway thriller
The feature event on day four of the Festival developed into a real battle up the straight, with Cloud Seeker and Nans View having raced prominently throughout and plenty of challengers seemingly lining up in behind.
However, 12-1 shot Nans View was incredibly game in the hands of Leigh Roche, entering the final furlong with a slight advantage before Cheeky Wink and Acapulco Bay both charged through in the dying strides.
Nans View was ahead in front on the line, though, with Cheeky Wink taking second, half a length ahead of Acapulco Bay.
Winning trainer Jarlath Fahey said: 'I thought halfway up the straight we were there, the last 50 to 100 yards was very terrifying!
'She is game, and she did hang on well in fairness. It was a brilliant ride by Leigh.
'She was second here last year, and she had won over a mile and a half in the last race of the year (in October).
'That day, Ronan (Whelan, jockey) said she could be a premier handicap filly next year, so it was half in our mind from then on and we were minding her.
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'A few things went wrong, and the yard hasn't been in form all year. They are running well, but they aren't winning. We minded her for here and thankfully it worked out.'
Turnpike Trip defied his veteran status with a game victory in the Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase.
Out of action for three years before returning in May, Charles Byrnes' 11-year-old had failed to make an impact in two starts but roared back to winning form as a 20-1 chance in the hands of the trainer's son, Philip.
Turnpike Trip was in the front rank for much of the race and looked to be beaten when headed at the last, only to rally for a length-and-a-half victory over Antrim Coast.
The winning trainer said, 'It's great to get the win here. I've been coming here for years, and I've had a few winners, but it's a very hard place to win.
'Philip said he got in under the second last and the last and lost momentum a small bit but he really powered up the hill then.
'It's a brilliant feeling, especially that Philip rode it. Unfortunately, the owner (Peter Acheson) couldn't make it here today, but it's a great feeling.'
Intense Approach (13-2) made a victorious start over fences in the Guinness Beginners Chase while Mighty Danu was an 11-1 debut winner in the James's Gate Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden.
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The 42
4 days ago
- The 42
Nans View shades victory in Galway thriller
NANS VIEW clung on for a narrow success in the Guinness Handicap at Galway. The feature event on day four of the Festival developed into a real battle up the straight, with Cloud Seeker and Nans View having raced prominently throughout and plenty of challengers seemingly lining up in behind. However, 12-1 shot Nans View was incredibly game in the hands of Leigh Roche, entering the final furlong with a slight advantage before Cheeky Wink and Acapulco Bay both charged through in the dying strides. Nans View was ahead in front on the line, though, with Cheeky Wink taking second, half a length ahead of Acapulco Bay. Winning trainer Jarlath Fahey said: 'I thought halfway up the straight we were there, the last 50 to 100 yards was very terrifying! 'She is game, and she did hang on well in fairness. It was a brilliant ride by Leigh. 'She was second here last year, and she had won over a mile and a half in the last race of the year (in October). 'That day, Ronan (Whelan, jockey) said she could be a premier handicap filly next year, so it was half in our mind from then on and we were minding her. Advertisement 'A few things went wrong, and the yard hasn't been in form all year. They are running well, but they aren't winning. We minded her for here and thankfully it worked out.' Turnpike Trip defied his veteran status with a game victory in the Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase. Out of action for three years before returning in May, Charles Byrnes' 11-year-old had failed to make an impact in two starts but roared back to winning form as a 20-1 chance in the hands of the trainer's son, Philip. Turnpike Trip was in the front rank for much of the race and looked to be beaten when headed at the last, only to rally for a length-and-a-half victory over Antrim Coast. The winning trainer said, 'It's great to get the win here. I've been coming here for years, and I've had a few winners, but it's a very hard place to win. 'Philip said he got in under the second last and the last and lost momentum a small bit but he really powered up the hill then. 'It's a brilliant feeling, especially that Philip rode it. Unfortunately, the owner (Peter Acheson) couldn't make it here today, but it's a great feeling.' Intense Approach (13-2) made a victorious start over fences in the Guinness Beginners Chase while Mighty Danu was an 11-1 debut winner in the James's Gate Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Poignant race tribute & ‘Will You Marry Me?' bet slip proposal – family affair at Galway races amid Thurles future hopes
NAN'S View made it a family affair in the big race at Galway with trainer Jarlath Fahey naming the horse after his mother who lived just down the road from the famous Ballybrit course. The 12/1 shot pipped it at the post in the 6 Nans View and Leigh Roche won the Guinness Handicap for Jarlath Fahey Credit: HEALY RACING 6 Amy Clyne from Mullingar enjoying the thirteenth year of Athlone Towncentre's 'Friday's Most Stylish' Credit: Inpho 6 Conor McDonald arranged for Paddy Power to make a bet slip with the words 'Will You Marry Me?' for his partner Emily Fennell Credit: Instagram/Galwayraces_official 6 The best slip Trainer Jarlath Fahey said: 'Both my parents are from 'The filly was named the year my mother died. She was a big Galway woman and she was called Nan's View because mammy used to always look out on the yard. 'We didn't think she'd turn out as good as she could and I don't know whether it is divine intervention, luck or someone looking after us but for her to be a Galway specialist and win a premier handicap on a Galway day – there is more at play here than I think just good training.' Gavin Cromwell's Mighty Danu had the first win of the day in the Maiden. READ MORE IN HORSE RACING Intense Approach breezed past the post in the Beginners Chase, while Turnpike Trip took the victory in the Handicap Chase. Paddy Power bookies said the 'safest and best bet of the week' involved a man asking for our help to propose to his girlfriend at Galway earlier this week. Conor McDonald arranged for Paddy Power to make a bet slip with the words 'Will You Marry Me?' for his partner Emily Fennell at odds of 1,000,000/1. Paddy Power spokesperson Paul Binfield said: 'Ballybrit has been its usual mixture of serious racing and savage fun and while the layers gained the upper hand early in the week, Most read in Horse Racing 'So with honours even and three days of craziness to go, there's still everything to play for, but whether punters are winning or losing, everyone will be over the moon that a bookie managed to assist one lucky Romeo in winning the safest and best bet of his lifetime.' Anthony Kaminskas, from AKA Bets, said the bookies were bashed on Thursday. Patrick Mullins reveals plans for superstar horses after Galway races and Cheltenham & Punchestown preparation He said: 'The first three days were very good for the bookmakers. 'Our on-course and online teams won money each day meaning punters were behind. 'Quite a few fancied horses were beaten so punters were struggling. 'Thursday started in a similar vein with bookmakers winning for the first half of the card. 'The last four results yesterday were very bad for the bookies. Fancied horses winning. 'I think we lost €18.5k on the track Thursday overall so definitely a day to be a punter.' Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said the team 'take serious money at the meeting each year'. He said: 'There's no doubt that most of that money is taken on the Plate and Hurdle each year, which are two of the biggest handicaps across the entire season. 'This year has been no different, where turnover has been strong. 'Ndaawi was a notably poor result for us at William Hill in the Galway Hurdle, as he was well-backed ante-post and on the day too. 'We can safely say that the stewards' decision didn't go in our favour.' 'SUPER WEEK' Alex Apati from Ladbrokes said it was a 'super week so far for bookies', with results in the feature races being 'particularly favourable' for them. He said: 'This is always a competitive festival, but we're used to seeing more winning favourites than we have done so far this week, which has naturally made for a great few days for our books.' 'Thursday was very much one for the punters, with the double result in the Hurdle doing us some damage. 'That being said, a 40/1 winner of the Listed Corrib Fillies Stakes meant we were already in a decent position for the day.' 'There's still a long way to go but at this point, punters have got some catching up to do.' Ahead of BOYLE 'That said, there's plenty of racing left to come over the weekend and punters have every chance of clawing it back before the curtain falls on another cracking MY VIEW AFTER a busy day of racing and fashion yesterday, I was ready to make the most of my final day at the The sun came out again as punters rolled in to Ballybrit. Highlight of the day was meeting comedian and A big fan of Charlotte Tilbury, the Monaghan woman told how she finally got to meet her make-up hero. Kayleigh said: 'I had assumed she wouldn't know who I was. When I went to meet her, she just turned around and she was like, 'it's you darling'. And I was like, 'she knows who I am'.' The news Thurles Racecourse is closing was the talk of the track. Jockey Patrick Mullins said: 'There are other places that you can gallop your horses but Thurles was my father Willie's preferred place. So yeah things will change a little bit.' It's been an amazing week and I can't wait to return in 2026! The racing community woke up to the shock news that Thurles Racecourse had closed with immediate effect. Champion jockey Patrick Mullins said it's the 'end of an era for Irish racing'. He said: 'I had my very first race ride at Thurles, the last meeting before Christmas 2005 on a mare called Screaming Witness who we still have some of her progeny. 'So it's where I started. Thurles on a Thursday in the winter was what National Hunt Racing was in Ireland. 'So the Molonys ran it fantastically well and we considered them friends. It's a sad day but we have a lot of great memories there.' Looking at the season ahead, many of the Mullins' horses will be coming off break. Patrick added: 'Once we get Galway out of the way, and that's the summer over for us, we get all our winter horses back in from their holidays, they were out May, June, July. 'So the likes of Galopin de Champs, State Man, Gaelic Warrior, Nick Rockett who's obviously my favourite at the moment, they'll all be coming back in after holidays big and fat. 'We'll start them back very slow. And with us we'd like to get three, maybe four months training into them before they run. 'So it'll be November, maybe December time before they have their first race, and we aim to peak for Cheltenham and Punchestown in March, April. 'LONG ROAD' 'So it's a long road, but it's always an exciting time of year, to see all the superstars, the Galacticos back in, and all the dreams are alive.' Clodagh Cosgrove from Athlone was announced as winner of Athlone Towncentre's 'Friday's Most Stylish'. Dressed in a purple dress and hat from Depop, the lucky lady bagged a luxury shop and stay break worth over €4500. She said: 'I was so shocked. The style here is really, honestly, amazing.' Celebrity judge Kayleigh Trappe stunned in a cream and butter-yellow look. She said: 'This is my second time here. I wasn't here last year, but I was here the year before, and it was a fantastic day out. 'It's crazy, but I love all the little things that go on. There's something for everybody. 'I wouldn't have a breeze about betting, but I love the style element of it. So it's got something for everyone, and then obviously the champagne tent helps.' LIFE CHANGING The comedian told how Dancing With The Stars was life changing. She said: 'I had a habit of throwing up a veil. And obviously on my page, it's all skits and giggles, as I say. 'I have such control, so on that show you can't help but be vulnerable.' Kayleigh added: 'When the show ended, it was like someone had died. I was like, 'if you need me, you'll find me in bed crying'. 'Because it was just such a big part of my life. But luckily, days like today, getting to do Friday's Most Stylish is fantastic.' Shirley Delahunt from Athlone Towncentre added: 'The Friday evening is a lovely evening in Galway because it's that little bit more laid back. 'People are getting ready for the bank holiday weekend and everything like that. So there's always a lovely sort of friendly vibe to it. 'It's funny actually because every year that we're down here doing Friday's Most Stylish, you see a lot of the same faces and you actually get to know people. 'You only see them once a year but you're catching up with them.' The Bentley Boys, The Gamblers, DJ Doc and Bula Beag kept the crowd going all day. 'IT'S FANTASTIC' The Bentley Boys Band member Rory Boyle said: 'It's always great here. It's fantastic. Playing to the crowds here is fantastic. I mean, it's really interactive as well. 'People just seem to be enjoying the music as they walk past for a drink or to hopefully pick up a nice winning. 'It's something different as well, because it's not quite a stadium gig or a Elsewhere in Galway, the pubs are overflowing with punters ready for more racing and the long weekend. General Manager at The Quays Pub, Paul Flood, said: 'We are experiencing a fantastic week again this year. The atmosphere in Galway is electric and especially here in The Quays bar and Restaurant. 'Mike Denver got the ball rolling Monday night to a full house which continued all week into the bar and upstairs music venue to the delight of the customers and created a very special atmosphere.' 6 Eilis Dempsey from Corofin, Co Galway at the Athlone Towncentre's 'Friday's Most Stylish' Credit: Inpho 6 Nans View and Leigh Roche, left, win the Guinness Handicap from Cheeky Wink, right Credit:
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Nans View lands the spoils in Guinness Premier Handicap as Galway crowd sets record
Friday at the Galway Races has established itself as arguably the most popular day of the meeting, and a bumper crowd of 26,234 was not alone 4,000 greater than the same day in 2024, it also set the record for the week to date. The most valuable race on the track was the Guinness Premier Handicap and Nans View landed the spoils for Co. Kildare trainer Jarlath Fahey and jockey Leigh Roche. The drying ground may have been against the 12-1 chance but, under a fine ride by Roche, who sent her clear early in the straight, she was able to resist the late charge of Cheeky Wink. 'I thought halfway up the straight we were there, but the last 50 yards were terrifying,' admitted Fahey. 'She's game and she hung on well, in fairness, and it was a brilliant ride by Leigh.' Commenting on stable form, a relieved Fahey added: 'A few things went wrong, and the yard hasn't been in form all year. They were running well but weren't winning. 'You just have to sit and wait and hope it comes right. You don't change a whole lot; you're not doing anything wrong. It's just that things aren't firing the way they were last year. We minded her for here and thankfully it worked out.' Emer Roche and Kate Geraghty, both from Tuam, cheer on Emer's brother jockey Leigh Roche to victory onboard Nans view. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy Turnpike Trip turned back the clock in the Guinness Galway Blazers, returning to form with a game performance under Philip Byrnes. Trained by his father, Charles, and owned by Peter Acheson, it was just the 20-1 chance's third outing in more than three years, and his last victory came in a Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket in 2021. However, the 11-year-old, who was a maiden over fences prior to this race, showed he retains plenty of his old spark with a doughty display to deny Antrim Coast and Must Be Obeyed. Said the winning trainer: "It's a brilliant feeling, especially that Philip rode it. Philip said he got in under the second-last and the last and lost momentum, but he really powered up the hill.' Gavin Cromwell introduced a promising sort in the opener, the James's Gate Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden, in the shape of Mighty Danu. The filly travelled nicely throughout but looked as though lack of experience might catch her out. However, Gary Carroll got a great tune out of her close home, and she got up to deny Bellamano by a neck. 'She was very green, but we liked her, and she went to the line well," said Cromwell. 'She's a tall filly and there is plenty of improvement in her, and she's going to make into a nice three-year-old.' The market for the Guinness Beginners' Chase was fascinating and in victory Intense Approach, trained by John McConnell and ridden by Alex Harvey, foiled a huge gamble on Talk In The Park, who was backed from an overnight high of 40-1 to a starting price of 6-1. The winner was in front rank much of the way, passed three out, but back in front close home to win by three parts of a length, with Donnie Devito a close third. Nicola Burns, a young rider who has been impressing this season, got off the mark for the week when getting Mother Mara up late to snatch victory from William F Browne in the Arthur Guinness Handicap. That was number 17 for the year for the young rider, who, in that time, has ridden winners for nine individual trainers. Aidan O'Brien's Eternal Spirit, one of the last progeny of Galileo, made a winning return to action in the Guinness Irish EBF Fillies' Maiden, doing so by finding plenty to see off Generous Support by a little more than a length. Jessica Harrington saddled her third winner of the meeting when Taipan, this time ridden by Keithen Kennedy, completed back-to-back wins in the Rockshore Refreshingly Irish Race. In the finale, a wide draw all but put paid to the chances of Thursday night winner Glenroyal, but 22-1 chance Steps In The Sand, ridden by 7lb claimer Patrick McGettigan, took the opportunity to give trainer Ciaran Murphy his second winner of the week, after Castleheath dead-heated here earlier in the week.
