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
