Hogan and Blackmore team up for Galway victory

Tipperary Racing Scene

Aidan O'Brien landed the colts’ two-year-old maiden on the opening day of the Galway festival on Monday with the Wayne Lordan-ridden Rock Of Cashel. A 3/1 chance, he made all the running and went clear from the furlong-pole to win by two and a quarter lengths from the Paddy Twomey-trained Admiral Churchill. Dermot Weld’s 13/8 favourite Truth Be Told could only manage fourth place.

Apprentice Wayne Hassett landed the biggest winner of his fledgling career when partnering the Joseph O'Brien-trained Mexicali Rose to win the Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap at Galway on Tuesday.

At odds of 12/1, the Kevin Blake-owned four-year-old was never far off the leaders and she led inside the final furlong to pip the Jessica Harrington-trained Norwalk Havoc and Shane Foley by a neck.

On the same day, Cloughjordan’s Denis Hogan and Killenaule’s Rachael Blackmore landed their first winner of the Galway festival as favourite Thecompanysergeant opened his account over fences in the two and a quarter-mile beginners’ chase.

The Martin Cooney-owned seven-year-old became only the second winning favourite of this year’s festival with a gutsy one and three-part of a length win over the Emmet Mullins-trained Merlin Giant.

Aidan O'Brien added to his win earlier in the day with Kyprios at Goodwood as Bubbling landed the seven-furlong fillies’ maiden, a second success at Galway for the champion trainer and Wayne Lordan.

The Cork-man brought the strong favourite home a five-length winner from Paddy Twomey’s Lady Marien with the Andy Slattery-trained Abazaami only a neck away in third place.

Joe Murphy and Gary Carroll both registered their first winner of the week when 10/1 chance Grey Leader battled well to land the eight-furlong handicap on Thursday. The Tony Auld-owned four-year-old dug deep in the straight and gamely held the Gerry Keane-trained favourite Genuine Article by half a length.

Aidan O'Brien and Wayne Lordan brought their tallies at Galway to three as Andromeda made much of the running to land the 12-furlong fillies’ maiden on Friday. A strong favourite, she raced clear early in the straight to beat the Jessica Harrington-trained Riviera Queen by four lengths.

O'Brien and Lordan made it four wins apiece as odds-on favourite Puppet Master easily landed the eight-furlong maiden for two-year-olds at Galway on Saturday. Mirroring what Andromeda had done on the previous evening, Puppet Master raced clear well over a furlong from the finish to score by an identical margin, a result that saw Lordan take the week’s leading Flat jockey title.

Ben Coen gave Kildare trainer Andrew Kinirons his second winner of the week when partnering Flying Bay to win the eight-furlong maiden for three and four-year-olds. The 15/2 chance readily overcame an unfavourable wide draw to lead after just a furlong and he made the best of his way home to win by half a length from the Michael Halford & Tracey Collins-trained Vadali.

Irish Grand National-winning trainer Tom Gibney landed a notable success with the Leonard Kinsella-owned Imposing Supreme which scored his fourth Galway Festival win when taking the seven-furlong handicap.

Ridden by Gavin Ryan, the 4/1 favourite raced up with the pace and edged ahead of Ado McGuinness’ front-runner Eddie G inside the final furlong to win by half a length. Imposing Supreme, a six-time winner in all, scored at Galway in 2019 and was twice a winner at the Festival in 2021.

In all, thirty different trainers and 39 different jockeys had winners across the seven days this year.

Upcoming Meetings

Sligo – Thursday, August 8 (First Race 5.05pm)

Leopardstown – Thursday, August 8 (First Race 5.22pm)

Tipperary – Friday, August 9 (First Race 4.45pm)

Wexford – Friday, August 9 (First Race 5.30pm)

Curragh – Saturday, August 10 (First Race 1.45pm)

Kilbeggan – Saturday, August 10 (First Race 5.30pm)

Downpatrick – Sunday, August 11 (2.18pm)