Whiskey Sour claimed a second victory at this year’s Galway Festival with a clear-cut triumph in the valuable Guinness Handicap.
Willie Mullins’ inmate did the business in a two-mile-one-furlong Connacht Hotel Handicap four days ago and repeated the dose in the hands of Declan McDonogh.
“He loves Galway and I think his novice hurdling career is probably on hold for now
Sent off the 7-4 favourite in the feature race over a mile and a half, Whiskey Sour was ridden by McDonogh as Mawaany went about his business at the top of the home straight.
Mawaany fought bravely, but Whiskey Sour was produced with a powerful drive on the grey’s outside and won going away by three-quarters of a length.
Le Vagabond stayed on for third place, another six lengths in arrears.
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Mullins said: “He was a bit keen early, but Declan was drawn on the outside and there was a strip of ground he wanted to go on.
“He loves Galway and I think his novice hurdling career is probably on hold for now. The English Cesarewitch is a race I’d like to think about towards the end of the season.”
McDonogh added: “He was a bit gassy the first two or three furlongs — he just got going a little bit from a wide draw. I knew I had a bit of work to do, but he picked up really good. I could have done with a stronger pace, but it was a great performance from Willie to turn him around so quickly.”
Riviera Sun (16-1) had earlier excelled in the Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase.
Henry de Bromhead’s eight-year-old, owned by JP McManus, gamely fended off Phil’s Magic by three-quarters of a length in the hands of Barry Geraghty.
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Net D’Ecosse finished third, while The Gatechecker was fourth.
“He was brilliant, but we’ll enjoy this and see what’s next
De Bromhead was winning the race for a second consecutive year after having last season struck with On Fiddlers Green, who was never a factor on this occasion.
He said: “He had that soft-ground form, which was great, and it was a super ride from Barry. He was brilliant, but we’ll enjoy this and see what’s next.
“I suppose we can look at a Munster National or a Kerry National. I don’t know whether he’s rated high enough for that but we’ll see. On Fiddlers Green disappointed but I think he just hated the ground.”
Brendan Duke has high hopes for Warm The Voice after the 2-1 favourite won the seven-furlong maiden by two and three-quarters of a length from Shifted Strategy. “He’s special. He’s an absolutely proper horse.”