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The Irish Sun
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘It's what Mikey would've done', says winning rider in emotional Galway Races tribute to jockey brother who died in fall
BILLIONAIRE racing legend JP McManus was delighted to see his horse Filey Bay win the big race on the opening day of the Galway Festival at Ballybrit. And it was a poignant win for young jockey Advertisement 6 Alan O'Sullivan celebrates with JP McManus and trainer Emmet Mullins after winning the Connacht Hotel Handicap with Filey Bay at Galway Racecourse Credit: PA 6 Alan O'Sullivan celebrates aboard Filey Bay Credit: PA 6 Jockey Michael O'Sullivan died in February from injuries he sustained in a fall in Thurles Credit: PA O'Sullivan's brother Michael tragically died in February following injuries he suffered in a fall at And he told 'I have so much confidence now, knowing that he's looking down on me. To do this for him, I think he would be proud.' He added: 'It's unbelievable, my goal at the start of the year was to be good enough that someone might want me for this. Advertisement READ MORE IN HORSE RACING 'When I wanted the gaps, they came for me, I got a dream run. I probably went the brave man's route, but I thought it's what Mikey would have done. I had loads of horse, if I got any gap at all I had the horse to take it. 'He galloped all the way to the line.' With nearly €2.2million prize money on offer over the 53 races this week at the The annual racing bonanza saw thousands of Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing The groundstaff had the course looking pristine for the week ahead while the crowds prayed the And it was GROWING NUMBERS Jessie Harrington's Jerrari went clear on the run-in to beat Ross O'Sullivan's Prove Yourself in the second race of the day, while Aidan O'Brien's Constitution River justified his short price in the third race. With over 171,000 Advertisement Festival CEO Michael Moloney told The Irish Sun: 'There's lots of pints of 'Last year, we welcomed over 120,000 Opening day one of the Frank Naughton of The Galway Tenors said: 'To sing up here is always the big buzz of the year, I grew up just over the road from here so it's in my blood. Advertisement 'I've been singing up here either solo or with the Tenors for over 25 years and believe me when I say, I just love it. 'And to be joined this year by my fellow tenor Padraig Connaughton makes it even more fun.' Meanwhile bookie Anthony Kaminskas from AK FAB FASHION He said: 'My advice would be come racing, you get the big prices. Shop around with all the bookmakers.' Advertisement Away from the betting ring, racegoers were dressed to the nines and taking in all the festivities. Pam Richardson from Galway and Suzanne McGarry from While Galway ladies Joanne Kennedy and Michelle Murphy turned heads in their colourful Joanne said: 'I'm a local, I'm a major fan. I always come for the races. I love Monday, it's a real local day. The atmosphere's fantastic. The style is amazing. Advertisement 'I will be putting some bets on. Hopefully they're winners. 'I have a few tips but if I like the name, I'll go with it.' And Michelle added: 'I call it the pilgrimage really. It has to be done every year. You feel you're missing out on something if you don't go to it. I've been 26 coming years, ever since I got married. 'There's great style already. A great mix of colours. Even the gents are making a big effort.' Advertisement TRAVELLING PUNTERS Among the crowds were punters who Racing veteran Dermot McGann from Loughrea said: 'I'm here every year. I've been coming 30 to 40 years now. It's brilliant, it's a great week really. 'When it comes to the horses, I guess really. I buy the paper and have a look. I'm here three days.' Bunzai Cowen, originally from Advertisement She said: 'It's my second time here. We come for the races. I'm here with my family. I'm ready to place my first bet. It's always a grand time. It's craic.' Former Meanwhile, racegoers held a poignant minute's silence today at the opening of the festival after the passing of legendary jumps trainer Edward O'Grady, who was hailed as 'a colossus of the festival'. The 75-year-old passed away this week — just days after sending out his final ever runner at Advertisement DANI'S DIARY DAY one of the Galway Festival kicked-off in style as racegoers flocked to the city for a thrilling week of racing and revelry. Guido Fanzini and Paul from Wobbly Circus had the crowds in stitches in Eyre Square as they made their way to the racecourse at Ballybrit. Punters had already started gathering an hour before the gates were set to open. Ballybrit quickly filled up with racing novices and well-seasoned pros — all looking for a bit of the action. What a place to be on a Monday! I was very impressed with the style and colour among the big crowd. Meeting so many ladies rocking Irish designers was even more impressive. There were so many intriguing outfits that I couldn't take my eyes off. The crowd were delighted to see Willie Mullins off to another flying start but it was a mixed day for punters with only some of the favourites delivering. As for me, I'm only warming up. The He also saddled 18 winners at the O'Grady trained three Galway Plate winners in the space of just four years including Shining Flame in 1978, Hindhope in 1979 and Rugged Lucy in 1981. The festival organisers released a statement today paying tribute to the man who was a regular feature in the winner's enclosure at Galway. They said: 'Edward was a colossus here at Galway races. Advertisement 'Edward will be greatly missed by his family and his many friends within the racing community.' And JP said: 'When Edward fancied a horse, you didn't need to have money. All you needed to have was credit because they nearly always delivered. 'He was an amazing trainer." Advertisement 6 Racegoer Michael Heeney, 6, from Tuam, Galway looks on during the Connacht Hotel Handicap during day one of the Galway Races Summer Festival at Ballybrit Racecourse Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription 6 Suzanne Mcgarry from Sligo at Galway Racecourse Credit: PA 6 Pam Richardson from Galway Credit: PA
RTÉ News
28-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Emotional win for Alan O'Sullivan in opening feature at Galway Races
Filey Bay justified market support in recording an emotional victory in the Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap at Galway. The feature event on the first evening of the week-long festival at Ballybrit is restricted to amateur riders and it was Alan O'Sullivan – brother of the late Michael O'Sullivan, who tragically died in February following injuries suffered in a fall at Thurles – who shone in the saddle. O'Sullivan had to weave a path to get a run on the JP McManus-owned gelding and when he did he fairly shot clear aboard Emmet Mullins' 7-1 chance, with the winning jockey looking to the skies as he passed the line four and three-quarter lengths ahead of Mon Coeur. Filey Bay is a 7-1 winner of the Connacht Hotel Handicap for Emmet Mullins 📺 Watch The Galway Races live on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer #GalwayRaces — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 28, 2025 "He's looking down on me since the day he left us," O'Sullivan told RTÉ Sport. "I have so much confidence now, knowing that he's looking down on me. "To do this for him, I think he would be proud." He added: "It's unbelievable, my goal at the start of the year was to be good enough that someone might want me for this. "When I wanted the gaps, they came for me, I got a dream run. I probably went the brave man's route, but I thought it's what Mikey would have done. I had loads of horse, if I got any gap at all I had the horse to take it. "I got a dream run and he galloped all the way to the line." Jockey Alan O'Sullivan felt his late brother Michael "would be proud" after he piloted Filey Bay to the feature Connacht Hotel Handicap 📺 Watch The Galway Races live on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer now #GalwayRaces — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 28, 2025 Mullins said: "It was meant to be and I'm a bit lost for words. It's just magic. "It was Michael's saddle that Alan was using today. Michael rode a few times for me here and I think we hit the crossbar twice, so Alan steadied the ship. "It's been a long enough road with the horse. We had him last season and I sent him home twice as I just wasn't happy. Thankfully with JP the patience has paid off. "Alan was keen to ride him, and I was keen to claim off him as well. For 7lb claimers you don't need to look any further than Alan." Davy Crockett lived up to his regal breeding with a comprehensive victory in the Galway Bay Hotel & The Galmont Hotel Novice Hurdle. The Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old is a son of dual Derby hero Camelot out of Champion Hurdle-winning mare Annie Power, making him a half-brother to dual Grade One victor Mystical Power, who landed this Galway Festival curtain-raiser two years ago. Easy winner of a Punchestown bumper on his debut in early June, the 1-2 favourite to make a successful transition to the jumping game raised brief concerns for his supporters two out, but knuckled down well for Mark Walsh in the straight to beat Mick Collins by two and a half lengths. Mullins said: "I was very happy with how efficient his jumping was except, for the mistake at the second-last. For a horse having his first run over hurdles and just the second run of his career, I was very pleased with him. "We'll just keep going down the novice hurdle route and hopefully he might make into a Royal Bond horse. He could go to Listowel before then." JP McManus reacts to Davy Crockett winning the opening race and pays tribute to 'amazing trainer 'Edward O'Grady' who saddled his 1978 Galway Plate winner Shining Flame, purchased from Wexford hurling legend Nicky Rackard 📺 Watch #GalwayRaces live on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer now — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 28, 2025 Mullins also paid tribute to training great Edward O'Grady, who died on Sunday at the age of 75. He added: "Edward was someone that back in the day we looked up to. He was the foremost trainer going to Cheltenham – when no one (from Ireland) was having runners or winners in Cheltenham, he was having one or two of them every year. "People forget how difficult it was for Irish trainers to bring horses across and win and Edward had fantastic horses. He had a great Galway connection of course with Golden Cygnet, owned by Ray Rooney who was chairman here in Galway. "He'll be sorely missed in Irish racing." Constitution River confirmed the promise of his debut run to land the Eventus Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden with real authority. Contrary To Law attempted to keep tabs on Aidan O'Brien's runner up front, but he was shrugged off with some ease, as were the rest, as the imposing Wootton Bassett colt powered to a three-and-three-quarter-length triumph under Wayne Lordan, as odds of 1-5 suggested he would. A €400,000 purchase as a yearling, the winner – who is out of a sister to the top-class racemare Wonderful Tonight – just missed out to the Charlie Appleby-trained Distant Storm at the Newmarket July meeting, when the pair were nicely clear of the third. O'Brien's representative Chris Armstrong said: "He had a very good run in a nice maiden in Newmarket and with normal improvement coming here you'd think he'd put up a good display. "He was very green and Wayne said he was looking at the camera on his inside, but he went to the line with plenty still left in him. The experience around here will do him the world of good. "He's a colt with a touch of class and is one to look forward to going into the second half of the season. I suppose he puts himself into the Futurity mix with the rest of them and the lads will divide them up and see where they go."
The Irish Sun
28-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Galway Festival day one: Betting tips and race rundown
THE world-famous seven-day Galway Festival kicks off its marathon with a seven-race card which includes the lucrative Connacht Hotel Handicap for amateur jockeys. Before we get onto the flagship race on day one of the Galway Festival, Willie Mullins looks set to unleash a potential star in the impeccably bred Davy Crockett. 🏇 Quick Galway Festival day one tips Win singles & each way 5:10 Galway Bay Hotel & The Galmont Hotel Novice Hurdle: 5:40 Iggy Daly Easyfix Handicap Hurdle: 6:10 Eventus Irish EBF Maiden: 6:40 Connacht Hotel Handicap: 7:15 Clayton Hotel Galway Handicap: 7:50 GRA Chocolates Handicap: 8:20 Monami Construction Flat Race: 5:10 Galway Bay Hotel & The Galmont Hotel Novice Hurdle - 2m½f The former Aidan O'Brien-trained Ephesus has made a fair fist at hurdling since switching to the Denis Hogan yard. From his six starts, he has won one and run as well as can be expected in Grade 2 and Grade 1 company. He will find this a lot easier than what he faced when unseated at the last behind Lulamba at the Punchestown Festival, and has his chance. Recent hurdle winner Mick Collins looks set to play his role here, but the standout entry must be the impeccable bred DAVY CROCKETT . By dual Derby winner Camelot out of Champion Hurdler Annie Power, Davy Crockett, on breeding alone, looks destined for great things. He comes here on the back of a facile bumper win at Punchestown in June, and should his jumping be more than adequate, this should be the start of an exciting road for this four-year-old hurdler. 2024 Winner: Feud J : Danny Mullins – T : Richard O'Brien Odds : 16/5 Our pick: DAVY CROCKETT Trainer: Willie Mullins Jockey: Mark Walsh Form: 1 Age: 4 Weight: 11st 0lb ➡️ 5:40 Iggy Daly Easyfix Handicap Hurdle (4yo+) – 2m½f Last year's first and second look set to clash again. Son Of Hypnos had Clonbury Bridge (won this in 2021) ten lengths behind him last year, but the Kevin Smith runner has failed to get anywhere near the heights of that win since. He's six pounds higher than he was for winning this last year, and your hopes will be relying on a return to Galway sparking him back into form. Half A Chance would have just that should the application of first-time cheekpieces have the desired effect for a trainer who tends to target the Galway Festival. However, this could be blown apart by the Willie Mullins-trained RAKKI . Formerly trained in the UK by Alan King, Rakki makes his first appearance for Willie Mullins in a handicap off bottom weight. Bar a plip at Warwick, his other two hurdle runs in the UK are not bad runs at all. The last of his hurdle runs for Alan King is working out well, with the winner going on to win again. The second, Liam Swagger, has since gone on to finish third in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival. Rakki's new owners know what it is like to have a winner at the Galway Festival, and their latest recruit can be the latest to add to their Galway success. Others to note from an each-way standpoint are Metamorphous, who ran well off a seven-pound higher mark on his only visit to Galway, and the inform Jerrari. 2024 Winner: Son Of Hypnos J : James Smith – T : Kevin Michael Smith Odds : 16/1 Our pick: RAKKI Trainer: Willie Mullins Jockey: Paul Townend Form: 353- Age: 4 Weight: 11st 3lb ➡️ 6:10 Eventus Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden (2yo) - 7f Given that Dermot Weld always has one laid out to make their debut in this race every year, Masaban must be given the highest respect. However, the son of Siyouni and the rest of the field will need to be well above average to get the better of Aidan O'Brien's CONSTITUTION RIVER . The son of Wootton Bassett comes in here on the back of a short-head defeat on his racecourse debut at Newmarket (over three lengths clear of third). With the expected normal improvement from first to second run, it's hard to see Constitution River not making the most of his experience to get off the mark here. 2024 Winner: Rock Of Cashel – J: Wayne Lordan – T: Aidan O'Brien - Odds: 3/1 Our pick: CONSTITUTION RIVER Trainer: Aidan O'Brien Jockey: Wayne Lordan Form: 2 Age: 2 Weight: 9st 5lb ➡️ 6:40 Connacht Hotel (Q.R) Handicap (4yo+ 70-100) - 2m1f The Mullins' have a stranglehold on this race, with them winning seven of the last eight runnings. Patrick Mullins finally won the Connacht Hotel Handicap back in 2022 when patterning the classy mare Echos To Rain to victory. This year, he gets the leg up on Too Bossy For Us, who comes here on the back of a second-place finish to his stablemate Lot Of Joy in the Irish EBF Stayers Handicap. He was sent off the well-supported favourite on the day, and it looks set that his supporters will be back to try to make up for their Curragh losses. He has his chance off a three-pound higher mark, and now wears a hood for the first time, but being drawn 20 of 20 puts a bit of a dampener on his chances. There is every chance that he could get lit up if Patrick Mullins can't get him covered up early on. Filey Bay got one of those 'I could be about to come back into form' rides at the Curragh, and he should be monitored in the betting, especially from a favourable draw. However, the one that looks to have been laid out for this is last year's Hop House 13 Handicap winner, TOLL STONE . He defied the dreaded stall 20 when winning last year, and he pulled miles clear with the runner-up Mr Percy, who has gone on to win a Grade 2 novice hurdle and, most recently, the Ebor trial at the Curragh. Toll Stone hasn't been seen on the flat since his second to Comfort Zone at Naas, but given his owners' love of having Galway Festival winners, he is sure to be primed for this. As we saw with his win last season, a high draw will hold no fears, and this Emmet Mullins runner looks set to put up a bold showing. 2024 Winner: Sirius – J: Mr D H Dunsdon – T: Willie Mullins- Odds: 50/1 Our pick: TOLL STONE Trainer: Emmet Mullins Jockey: Mr J L Gleeson Form: -/1742 Age: 5 Weight: 11st 2lb ➡️ 7:15 Clayton Hotel Galway Handicap (3yo) - 7f Aviatrice was unlucky not to get off the mark on turf when finding trouble in running at a critical stage at Leopardstown, and could well go one better here from the box seat. David Loughnane sends over It'sneverjustone, who got off the mark at the sixth time of asking when winning comfortably at Ffos Las. He's gone up seven pounds for that win, but should have a lot more to offer on the back of that win. The Henry de Bromhead-trained Nyman needs serious consideration on the back of his second to Pier Pressure over one mile at Gowran Park on Saturday. The drop back in trip shouldn't be an issue, given the stiff finish at Galway. However, HIGHBURY SEE SEE overcame greenness up the home straight at Gowran to get off the mark last month. It's clear to see that he is still learning on the job, and given that things seem to be clicking for him now, expect to see him take another step forward here with Sam Coen, who has taken off seven of the nine pounds he was raised for his win. Gangster Man and Fiona Maccoul can go well at big odds. 2024 Winner: Artful Approach – J: J G Ryan – T: Jack Davison – Odds: 7/1 Our pick: HIGHBURY SEE SEE Trainer: Andrew Slattery Jockey: Sam Coen (7lb) Form: 6 5 -741 Age: 3 Weight: 9st 8lb ➡️ 7:50 GRA Chocolates Handicap (3yo) - 1m4½f Top weight Propose needs to bounce back for a poor run at Royal Ascot, but he will find this less taxing than what he faced at Ascot. Bear Creek got off the mark in his second handicap, and a ten-pound rise in the weights awaits him here. His win at Down Royal smacked of a fast improver, and is the one that is feared the most. But the one that could potentially be well ahead of his mark of 72 is fellow Joseph O'Brien-trained DESMOND CASTLE . He was given one of those 'what is he doing' rides when he never got nearer than third at Limerick on his first start beyond one mile. He steps up in trip once again, and given that there is clearly a lot more ability in there than what we have seen to date, Desmond Castle can go very well here. Kilmeaden, who hung to his right on handicap debut, will appreciate racing this way and is another who could take a big step forward here. 2024 Winner: Kentucky Gal – J: Rory Cleary – T: Anthony Mullins - Odds: 11/1 Our pick: DESMOND CASTLE Trainer: Joseph O'Brien Jockey: Declan McDonogh Form: 25-603 Age: 3 Weight: 8st 10lb ➡️ 8:20 Monami Construction INH Flat Race – 2m½f Newcomer Faith Of Empires is sure to know his job on debut and is feared, especially if strong support arrives for him. However, it can pay to side with experience here, and Gordon Elliott's COUTACH can capitalise on his experience. He was sent off the well-backed 5/2 favourite for a bumper at the Punchestown Festival and ran a race full of promise to finish fifth. He will have learned a great deal from that experience and will be hard to beat here. Should Saint Clovis get in, he needs to be closely monitored in the market. 2024 Winner: Delta Force J: Mr R W Barron – T: Charles Byrnes - Odds: 11/8Fav Our pick: COUTACH Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Mr H C Swan Form: 5 Age: 4 Weight: 11st 10lb ➡️ 🕔 Galway Festival Day One Schedule TIME RACE DISTANCE 5:10 Galway Bay Hotel & The Galmont Hotel Novice Hurdle 2m½f 5:40 GRA Chocolates Handicap 2m½f 6:10 Eventus Irish EBF Maiden 7f 6:40 Connacht Hotel Handicap 2m1f 7:15 Clayton Hotel Galway Handicap 7f 7:50 GRA Choclates Handicap 1m4½f 8:20 Monami Construction INH Flat Race 2m½f 📺 How to watch day one of the Galway Festival Location: Ballybrit, Galway, Ireland Date/Time: Monday, 28th July 2025. First Race 5:10 TV/Streaming: RTÉ2 & Racing TV About the author Craig Mahood Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Sun in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Sun, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Sun. Responsible gambling A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry, or depressed Problem gambling – Gamble Aware – Help with gambling addiction If you have a problem with gambling, or you know someone who does, help is out there. Extern Problem Gambling is the leading provider of information, treatment, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harms across Ireland. Most read in Betting
