Trainer Andy Slattery claims treble at Galway Festival

Tipperary trained horses claimed ten of the 53 races at the week-long Galway Festival which drew to a close on Sunday.

There were three Tipperary-based trainers on the mark on the opening Monday evening. With 1/5 favourite, Aidan O'Brien scored first as the Wayne Lordan-ridden Constitution River comfortably won the seven-furlong maiden for two-year-olds. He made all the running and went clear inside the final furlong to win by three and three-parts of a length from the Joseph O'Brien-trained Spangled Sands.

Donnacha O'Brien’s 11/2 chance Kilmeaden scored a battling success in the 12-furlong handicap. Ridden by Paddy Harnett, the three-year-old raced prominently and he dug deep to hold off Joseph O'Brien’s favourite Starford, the mount of Chris Hayes, by a neck, an eighth win in the month of July for O’Brien and a first success at Galway for his Limerick apprentice.

Andy Slattery landed the concluding bumper with the newcomer Gomez Addams. Owned and bred by Pat Morrissey, the Adam Ryan-ridden 11/2 chance looked a bright prospect as he raced to a six and a half-length win over Harry Kelly’s Maskarvel. It was a first Galway success for Ryan who was riding his fourth winner for Slattery in the month of July.

Joe Murphy got on the festival’s scoresheet as the 9/2 shot Pivotal Attack scored an easy win in the seven-furlong fillies’ maiden on Tuesday. Gary Carroll had an easy time of it as the Robert Moran-owned two-year-old led over a furlong out and skipped clear to win by all of four and a quarter lengths from Aidan O'Brien’s favourite Amelia Earhart.

Trainer Andy Slattery gained his second Galway win in three days as the Pat Garvey-owned Scott Key landed the eight-furlong handicap on Wednesday. A first winner of the week for Ben Coen, the 18/1 shot came from the back of the ten-runner field to lead inside the final furlong and he had half a length to spare over Refreshment, another at the same price, which was ridden for Mark Fahey by Gavin Ryan.

Harry Swan rode his first Galway Festival winner when partnering Denis Hogan’s five-year-old Frankie John to take the concluding bumper. Leading before halfway, the 15/2 chance led before halfway and made the best of his way home to beat the Ray Cody-trained Hawk’s Rock by two and a half lengths.

Aidan O'Brien landed a 7/1 winner as Eternal Spirit won the 12-furlong fillies’ maiden at Galway on Friday. With Wayne Lordan in the saddle, the three-year-old headed Jim Bolger’s front-runner Generous Support inside the final furlong to score by a length and a quarter.

Cian Quirke gave trainer Andy Slattery his third winner of the Galway Festival when partnering the four-year-old Ebony King to take the two-mile one-furlong maiden hurdle on Saturday. The Ladies Choice Partnership-owned 9/1 chance made all the running and saw off the late challenge of Denis Hogan’s Tatateo, another at odds of 9/1, by two and a half lengths.

At odds of 4/9 favourite, the two-year-old Action was another to score for Aidan O'Brien and Wayne Lordan in the eight-furlong maiden. He made all the running to win by a length and a quarter from Joseph O'Brien’s Perisher.

10/1 chance Thatwilldoso led well inside the final furlong to take the 12-furlong handicap for Kevin Coleman and Rory Cleary. The four-year-old came home a half-length winner from Ciaran Murphy’s Burren Song.

Jake Coen, who rode two Galway Festival winners on the Flat in 2022, notched up his first jumping success at the racecourse when partnering Tony Martin’s Aurea Fortuna to take the two-mile opportunity handicap hurdle on Sunday. A first winner in the colours of Debbie Breslin, the 8/1 shot came from off the pace to lead after the final hurdle and he had a cosy length and a half to spare over Gerry Keane’s 85/40 favourite Ragmans Corner at the line.

Upcoming Meetings

Sligo – Wednesday, August 6 (First race 4.50pm)

Wexford – Wednesday, August 6 (First race 5.00pm)

Sligo – Thursday, August 7 (First race 5.05pm)

Leopardstown – Thursday, August 7 (First race 5.20pm)

Tipperary – Friday, August 8 (First race 4.40pm)

Wexford – Friday, August 8 (First race 5.28pm)

Curragh – Saturday, August 9 (First race 1.45pm)

Kilbeggan – Saturday, August 9 (First race 5.27pm)

Downpatrick – Sunday, August 10 (First race 2.17pm)