03-08-2025
Princess Child comes of age for Joseph O'Brien's team in closing-day feature at Galway Festival
The consistent four-year-old filly had finished second in a Listed event on Thursday but was able to land her first win since racing in France as a juvenile.
Since joining O'Brien she has more than paid her way, finishing second in four Listed races. However, this was the first time her handler had run her in a handicap since June 2024.
Gleneagle Bay made a bold bid for home but Dylan Browne McMonagle brought Princess Child (5/1) with a powerful run and she went on to win by a length and a quarter with Colm Quinn Mile winner Dunum in third.
'She had a good run here the last day. She was very unlucky and just didn't get the rub of the green until the straight,' said the winning rider.
'She's had a couple of days to freshen up again and was bouncing around the parade ring and felt great going to post.
'You need plenty of luck when you are drawn in there [stall six] but I definitely had a willing partner. Hopefully she can progress into stakes company again and get her head in front.'
The good run of Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy continued as Zanahiyr made a welcome return to the winning ways in the Kinlay Hostel Chase.
Third in the 2023 Champion Hurdle, the one-time Triumph Hurdle favourite was third in the Galway Plate last year and was making his second appearance of the week after finishing seventh and well held in this year's feature chase.
Sent off 9/4, this was far from an easy assignment for Kennedy's mount 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.
'He's been a great horse, placed in Champion Hurdles and it's nice for him to get his head in front today,' said the rider. 'It's been a great week.'
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Earlier, John McConnell's 14/1 outsider Ballystone kept on well to claim the Kenny Galway Peugeot Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Alex Harvey.
"He's a lovely horse, very genuine,' said Harvey. '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.'
