Latest news with #GuinnessBeginners'Chase
Irish Examiner
01-08-2025
- Sport
- 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.
Irish Daily Mirror
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Galway Races tips: Follow the Dream team on Friday night at the Festival
5.00 - Jame's Gate Auction Maiden BELLAMANO can take the opening race for Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen on what's sure to be a very busy Friday night's action in Galway. The Lucky Vega filly has two good efforts to her name at Leopardstown and Killarney and is drawn in stall one, which as we've seen this week is a big advantage over seven furlongs. Next to her in stall two is Nod Of Approval, who should improve in the JP McManus silks from a decent debut effort at the Curragh. TIP: BELLAMANO Each-way: Nod Of Approval 5.30 - Guinness Beginners' Chase An 18-runner Beginners'' Chase around this tight and undulating track should be fun to watch and the experience of SHANTREUSSE gives him a hesitant vote. The Henry De Bromhead-trained gelding remains a maiden from eleven chase starts, and may well be exposed, but he has run some good races and was a Grade 3 winner over hurdles back in 2022. First time blinkers are interesting and he has had a nice break since finishing well down the field in the Topham at Aintree in April. In truth, anything could win this, but Sandor Clegane is a classy sort with plenty of experience too and will get his head in front one day soon. TIP: SHANTREUSSE Each-way: Sandor Clegane 6.00 - Galway Blazers Handicap Chase One of our favourite races of the week, a contest for horses who missed the cut in Wednesday's Galway Plate and always a fiercely competitive affair. DIGBY is a reliable little horse who has been in grand form this summer, winning at Ballinrobe over hurdles and at Bangor before running a belter in the Summer Plate at Uttoxeter in late June. Patrick O'Brien is in great form at the minute, riding a winner here on Wednesday, and if he can get to the front early on he'll take a bit of catching in a wide open race. Jack Kennedy's decision to ride Mars Harper warrants a second glance. The nine-year-old has plenty of ability and finished fourth in the Festival Plate at Cheltenham in the spring. TIP: DIGBY Each-way: Mars Harper 6.35 - Guinness Handicap You have to go back to the last century for Aidan O'Brien's only winner of this Friday night feature when the brilliant Theatreworld scored in 1998 and 1999 in between finishing runner-up in three Champion Hurdles in succession. Tonight O'Brien also tries to buck the trend of no three-year-old having won this race since 2001 with his ACAPULCO BAY. Drawn in stall one, expect Wayne Lordan to bounce out prominently and try to use the son of Dubawi's light weight and strong stamina to good effect. He has proven to be expensive to follow this summer and has been a beaten favourite in his last three runs but he can atone tonight and prove himself something of a handicap blot. Soaring Monarch is a fascinating runner. He's a regular here, winning at the 2023 Festival, and was third in this last year and is capable of a big run under top apprentice Nicola Burns. TIP: ACAPULCO BAY Each-way: Soaring Monarch 7.10 - Fillies Maiden Joseph O'Brien has been the scourge of the bookies here a few times here this week and JANNAH STAR should score in this 1m4f contest. By Sea The Stars, she has been a silver medal winner on her last two starts at Bellewstown and the Curragh since winning bronze on her debut at Limerick. This looks like a good opportunity to strike gold and get some reward for his consistency. TIP: JANNAH STAR Each-way: Ledecky 8.10 - Rockshore Irish Race The crowd should be getting giddy now and A DREAM TO SHARE can make them even happier with victory here for JP McManus and John and Thomas Kiely. A former Champion Bumper winner at Cheltenham, he's a very talented horse, who didn't take to hurdling but looked a smart horse for the flat when winning at Leopardstown. It's a deep race for the grade and prize-money with some dangerous opponents but the suspicion is that connections have had Galway in mind for a long time with this seven-year-old. Emmet Mullins has had a great week and his Mee family-owned This Songisforyou sets the standard and should be there or thereabouts at the finish too. TIP: A DREAM TO SHARE (nap) Each-way: This Songisforyou 8.40 - Hop House Handicap The lucky last on a long night of racing with REDWOOD QUEEN given the nod to build on an encouraging run over hurdles here on Wednesday. She's only rated 67 on the flat and came with a threatening run before just getting tired here two days ago. That was her first run since a controversial unseat in May and this looks a race well within her compass for her shrewd young trainer Cian Collins. Top weight Empress Alma is another who ran well here earlier in the week. TIP: REDWOOD QUEEN Each-way: Empress Alma
