Latest news with #GuinnessOpenGateBreweryNoviceChase
Irish Examiner
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Agony and ecstasy - Donagh Meyler wins with Strong Link after Novice Hurdle heartache
The agony of the Galway Hurdle wasn't quite erased by Strong Link's success in the following race, the Guinness Novice Hurdle, but it proved a small amount of compensation for jockey Donagh Meyler. Market leader Cameletta Vega took over when a gap appeared along the rails on the turn for home, but a gap remained along the inside of the new leader and Meyler, riding for Ross O'Sullivan, took the daring route and his mount proved up to the task. 'Donagh was very low in the ring beforehand, so what do you say to him? But he said 'it's done now - next race,'' said O'Sullivan. "Mentally to lose a Galway Hurdle and to come back out and give that horse the ride that he did, to have the confidence to slip up Paul Townend's inner is the sign of a really good sportsman.' Willie Mullins saddled the first two home in the Grade Three Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase but that long run from the last fence to the finishing line proved the undoing of favourite Westport Cove, who had to give best to stablemate Gold Dancer. The favourite travelled best to the entrance to the straight but came under heavy pressure quite soon afterwards and was unable to resist the challenge of the Sean O'Keeffe-ridden Gold Dancer. Genuine Article finished runner-up in the 2024 running of the Rockshore Refreshingly Irish Handicap and had little trouble going one place better this time around. Seamie Heffernan, employing similar tactics to those he used to such good effect aboard Dunum earlier in the week, quickened clear into the straight and won impressively for trainer Gerry Keane. Being in front rank proved key to success in the listed Arthur Guinness Irish EBF Corrib Fillies' Stakes and the proactivity of Luke McAteer, riding the Richard Fahey-trained Tropical Island, yielded rich dividend. The 40-1 chance kicked form the front as they raced out of the dip and while the closers flew home, she held on by the shortest of short heads, from Princess Child, who also finished runner-up last year, with Easy Mover between the first two, and just a short head further back. Joseph O'Brien, who saddled the second and fourth in the listed race, got on the mark when Which Wolf Wins took the Guinness Irish EBF Nursery. Well positioned throughout, he took over quite early in the straight and looked to have matters at hand. Perhaps through greenness, he idled somewhat when in front and Invincible Will finished strongly, but the progressive Which Wolf Wins held on to give Dylan Browne McMonagle his 53rd winner of the season. 'He was a little disappointing on his first couple of runs but progressed well the last day at six furlongs and Wayne (Hassett) said to go to seven the next day,' said O'Brien. 'For the first time he went through the race well today and hopefully he can continue to go forward from here. There is a nice conditions race for him at Listowel in September.' O'Brien and McMonagle didn't have to wait too long to double their tally as Glenroyal justified heavy support in the Guinness 0.0 Handicap. Stepping up in trip and enjoying a bit of ease in the ground, he got off the mark with something in hand and may be allowed to take his chance again this evening. The finale was the Guinness Time Bumper and Frankie John, trained by Denis Hogan and ridden by Harry Swan, showed his experience as he galloped on strongly to the line to successful wrap up proceedings on an eventful day in Ballybrit
RTÉ News
31-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Galway Races wrap: Gold Dancer claims unlikely victory in Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase
Gold Dancer wore down his front-running stablemate Westport Cove to claim an unlikely victory in the Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase at Galway. Westport Cove was the 85-40 favourite for the Grade Three contest having opened his account over fences at Ballinrobe in late May and looked in control for much of the way under Paul Townend. He still appeared the most likely winner after kicking clear of the faltering Pied Piper from the home turn, but the seven-year-old began to tire in the straight and Sean O'Keeffe produced 7-1 shot Gold Dancer with a well-timed challenge up the hill to emerge victorious by two and a half lengths. Trainer Willie Mullins said: "Of my runners I thought Westport Cove would win, but Gold Dancer is by Doctor Dino, who is a horse we like, and Sean gave him a lovely cute ride. He let Paul do all the donkey work, had one crack at him and it all worked out "Westport Cove basically races flat out so you just try to get a breather into him and while Paul thought he had enough breathers got, Gold Dancer is just improving. There is probably more improvement in him that the other horses we ran in the race. "Today was the first time he showed me on the racecourse what we thought and think of him at home. We'll go down the novice chase route with him now at the big festivals and hopefully he is good enough to go on to the Drinmore (at Fairyhouse) in December." British raider Tropical Island caused a 40-1 upset in the big Flat race of the afternoon - the Arthur Guinness Irish EBF Corrib Fillies Stakes under Luke McAteer. Richard Fahey's charge was well beaten on her most recent appearance at Pontefract, but was soon in front in this Listed event and had just enough in reserve to repel the fast-finishing Princess Child and Easy Mover in a thrilling three-way finish. "They told me she'd stay and she stays bang on seven furlongs. The owners were adamant to keep her going, don't let up (in front) and turning in she was pricking her ears and looking up at the stands, but she stuck at it well," said McAteer. "I knew I had Gavin (Ryan, on Easy Mover) beaten but thought Declan (McDonogh, on Princess Child) had done me at the line, but it was great to hold on. "I spoke to Richard (Fahey) on the phone and he said to do as the owners wanted so I didn't look back and she duly obliged. They wanted black type so it is great.
Irish Daily Mirror
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Galway Races day four LIVE updates as Ladies Day takes over at Ballybrit
Day four of the Galway Racing Festival is here and today, it is Ladies Day, and throughout the afternoon, some stunning fashion will be on display. It has already been a remarkable week at Ballybrit with top-class racing, great craic, and evening a marriage proposal thrown in for good measure. Besides the fashion, all eyes will be on the Galway Guinness Hurdle (4.30). It has been 15 years since a non-Irish horse won the race, but is that about to change today? Here's how the action will unfold today: 2.10: 2m2f (2m2f54y) Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase (Grade 3) (4yo+) 2.45: 1m½f (1m98y) Rockshore Refreshingly Irish Handicap (4yo+) 3.20: 7f Arthur Guinness Irish EBF Corrib Fillies Stakes (Listed Race) (Fillies & Mares) (3yo+) 3.55: 7f Guinness Irish EBF Nursery Handicap (2yo) 4.30: 2m (2m11y) Guinness Galway Hurdle Handicap (Grade 3) (4yo+) 5.05: 2m4½f (2m4f156y) Guinness Novice Hurdle (4yo+) 5.40: 1m4f Guinness 0.0 Handicap (3yo+) 6.10: 2m2f Guinness Time INH Flat Race (5yo+) 13:06 Oisin Doherty Danny Gilligan was the star of the show on Wednesday. Danny Gilligan was the star of the show on Wednesday. (Image: Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)
Irish Daily Mirror
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Galway Races tips: English horse trained by an Irishman to win the Galway Hurdle
It's 15 years since the Guinness Galway Hurdle went for export - the third time in the illustrious race's history. Overturn's success in 2010 was the first British win in the race, which has been running since 1913, since Sagaman's win in 1991 while Rushmoor in 1986 was the first foreign trained winner of the race. Today at Ballybrit we fancy a horse from the UK to capture the big prize, although his trainer is very much born and bred in Ireland. 2.10 - Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase Galway Hurdle day opens with a Novice Chase and the experienced PIED PIPER can maintain his unbeaten run over fences by making it four wins out of four. A top class hurdler, who was second in the 2022 Triumph Hurdle and second and third in the 2023 and 2024 County Hurdle at Cheltenham, he's taken to chasing like a duck to water. He started this summer run at Down Royal in April and has since won novice contests at Roscommon and Killarney and with a mark of 150 it's hard to see him beaten here. Special Cadeau is interesting for the in-form partnership of Henry De Bromhead and Darragh O'Keeffe and has a life having finished runner-up to Nurburgring at Killarney on his last start. TIP: PIED PIPER Each-way: Special Cadeau 2.45 - Rockshore Refreshingly Irish Handicap QUAR SHAMAR gets the vote for Ross O'Sullivan in a devilishly difficult 1m handicap. The German bred was having his first run for that yard having been with Emmet Mullins and Jessica Harrington, when sixth at the Curragh on his most recent start. He can be marked up a bit for that effort having not had a clear run and has dropped a long way in the handicap from a career high rating of 104 to just 81. The Durkans had a good festival here 12 months ago and Bill Silvers could run well at a price with Chris Hayes booked to do the steering. TIP: QUAR SHAMAR Each-way: Bill Silvers 3.20 - Arthur Guinness Irish Corrib Stakes UK-based trainer Ollie Sangster sends a rare runner west at a venue where his late grandfather Robert's colours were regular winners for Ballydoyle in the past. His GLAMIS ROAD comes out of stall two and looks to have a massive chance of building on good runs at Carlisle and Epsom. She's a lightly raced filly who won twice last season and the hustle and bustle of a race like this might just suit her as will coming off a strong pace. Top weight Bellaphina has a chance of making the frame having finished third to the smart Sky Majesty in a Stakes race at Naas on her last start. TIP: GLAMIS ROAD Each-way: Bellaphina 3.55 - Guinness Nursery Handicap We'll go for the old punting trick of backing the top weight in a Nursery here and select GAVOO to reverse recent Curragh form with Which Wolf Wins. David Marnane's colt ran a little green on that occasion and should appreciate the extra furlong here too despite carrying 10st3lbs. Gavin Cromwell's recent Down Royal third Invincible Will is one that might be capable of improvement on handicap debut. TIP: GAVOO Each-way: Invincible Will 4.30 - Guinness Galway Hurdle The big race of the day, if not the week, and one where a huge gamble on the JP McManus-owned Puturhandstogether could have bookies running for cover. We missed the boat there so instead our selection is the UK raider DYSART ENOS, who can give Fergal O'Brien a massive winner on his first visit to Galway. The mare has lots of experience in these types of races having placed in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last year. She was a very smart bumper horse and beat Champion Hurdle heroine Golden Ace by nine lengths in an Aintree contest back in 2023. She warmed up for this with a spin on the all-weather at Kempton and looks a value bet to become the first British-trained winner since Overturn in 2010. Tipperary native O'Brien's only previous winner in Ireland came in 2014 when the Conor Shoemark-ridden Me And Ben struck at Listowel's harvest festival. There are a host of horses with chances, but last year's runner-up Ndaawi must surely come into consideration having not been seen since chasing home Kargese in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. TIP: DYSART ENOS Each-way: Ndaawi 5.05 - Guinness Novice Hurdle CAMELETTA VEGA is a daughter of six-time Cheltenham winner Quevega and dual Derby winner Camelot and can back up her Cork success in this 2m4f contest. She struggled in bumpers but this type of distance looks more to her liking with her pedigree and it wouldn't be a shock to see her progress into a real nice staying hurdler next season. The mare she beat, Emily Love, ran well here earlier in the week and she's a confident choice TIP: CAMELETTA VEGA Each-way: Ndaawi 5.40 - Guinness 0.0 Handicap Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle are in sensational form at present with the Donegal born rider mounting a serious title challenge with Colin Keane now based in England for a lot of the time. They can win this with GLENROYAL, who should improve for a step up to 1m4f, having made the frame on his last two starts over 1m1f at Ballinrobe and Tipperary. TIP: GLENROYAL Each-way: Astelia Dylan Browne McMonagle (centre) with Joseph O'Brien: will make his Derby debut (Image: PA) 6.10 - Guinness Time INH Flat Race A bumper to finish a marathon eight-race card and one where Willie and Patrick Mullins can send punters home happy with WARTIME LEADER. Second to Shuttle Diplomacy on debut in January 2024 for trainer Pat Doyle, that form has worked out well with Tom Cooper's charge finishing third in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. He hasn't been seen since but now calls Closutton home and there'll surely be improvement to come from the son of Churchill. TIP: WARTIME LEADER Each-way: Ring Of Kerry
