In a dramatic feature race on the second evening of the Galway Festival, witnessed by 17,480 fans, the Declan McDonogh-partnered Riven Light barged his way to glory to the joy of punters at odds of 7-2.
A troubled passage awaited many of the riders who participated in this Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap, which was worth €70,800 to the victorious owner. Riven Light looked like suffering more than most but McDonogh drove through a passage near the furlong pole, going past Hibou, who finished second, and Marshall Jennings, who was hampered. Dream Walker was third. Turbine was fourth.
“It was a big decision by my father to drop him back to a mile
For his involvement in the incident that hurt Jessica Harrington’s Marshall Jennings, McDonogh was banned for four days by the acting stewards.
“It was a big decision by my father to drop him back to a mile,” said Patrick Mullins, assistant and son to the winning trainer, Willie. “He has always shown us a lot of speed at home and probably hasn’t stayed over hurdles. It’s good he is finally fulfilling what he shows us at home. He got a superb ride from Declan.”
Large swathes of men and women attended in the sunshine yesterday evening and, just as on day one, Barry Geraghty rode a first-race winner for JP McManus and the aspiring young trainer, Joseph O’Brien. On this occasion, Housesofparliament prevailed after assuming leadership in an intriguing contest in the dip. “He was a good Flat horse and was third in the Leger at Doncaster,” Geraghty said. “He was workmanlike but jumped well and he’ll improve for the experience. He’s obviously proven on the Flat that he has an engine but he needs to improve a bit, I’d say.”
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Both Noel Fehily and Henry De Bromhead enjoyed the breaking of their Festival duck in the beginners’ steeplechase. Three Wise Men made much of the running, jumping like an old hand under Fehily, to deny all rivals.
“I am delighted for the Mees, who own the horse, as this is a big week for them,” De Bromhead said. “It was not the plan to ride him like that — in fact Noel did exactly what we agreed he wouldn’t do! He is actually entered here again later in the week.”
Flat racing commenced with the nicely supported 9-1 shout Shekiba landing the prize under Gary Carroll in the maiden but the largest cheer was for trainer Robbie McNamara, who enjoyed his first winner since a fall put an end to his riding days as Cascavelle scored under Billy Lee.
“It’s great to get a reception like that,” McNamara said after the young handler was greeted with loud applause. “I said before the race he was my best one of the week and I’ve been on the cold list after a poor spell without winners.”
Lee had a double, as Serefeli scored in the second-last race. The finale went to Leigh Roche on Gordon Elliott’s Knockmaole Boy.