Tramore handler Paul Roche recorded his biggest training success at Galway this evening when 20/1 shot Sheer Tenby landed the featured McDonogh Handicap under Colm O'Donoghue (20) before a record Tues crowd of 22,616.
Luck in running played a big part rounding the home turn but helped by a high draw of 19 in-form O'Donoghue sent the 9 member Halfway House Syndicate-owned outsider to the front inside the final furlong to defeat Free To Speak.
Scottish Memories finished best of all, after been forced wide turning-in, to finish 3rd while 5/1f Tarakan flopped under Fran Berry back in 17th place.
'Gerry Hogan bought this horse for #5,050 at Newmarket and I told Colm to ride him handy. There's going to be one hell of a party tonight,' said former rider Paul Roche (27) after recording his 11th win since acquiring a licence last Nov.
Earlier Christy Roche, Paul Moloney and J.P.McManus all combined to complete an opening race double sparked off with Get It On (6/4-5/4f) who scored with the minimum of fuss in the opening 2m maiden hurdle.
Thirty-five minutes later it was the turn of the Roche-trained Hardiman (4/1-9/2) to follow up in the famous green and orange colours comfortably holding the renewed effort of Carina Bay by 2 1/2L.
'The 3 years experience over fences helped but he has been a frustrating horse, a nearly horse,' said Roche of Hardiman, who went on to compliment Cork handler Tom Busteed.
'Tom had this horse for a long time over the winter and he got him back jumping,'he said.
Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen notched another success compliments of warm favourite Saranac Lake (1/1f), who despite not acting on the track, still came home with 3l to spare over market rival Venus De Milo.
Weld said, ' The plan was to make it but she didn't rail well. She gets the trip well and she'll move into Group company with the Debutante Stakes the logical race for her next.'
The Weld/Smullen alliance made it winner number 4 of the week in the concluding leg of the Jackpot when Whisper Light (7/4-5/2-9/4) forged into the lead well inside the final furlong to provide 34 lucky patrons with a dividend of #3,050.30.
Pat Flynn received a welcome change of luck when Danny Grant partnered Boley Lass to victory in the 7f handicap. 'I never thought I was going to train a winner again as my horses were just not firing,' said a relieved Flynn afterwards.
Racing concluded with Rachel Costello making all aboard Michael Halford's Class Society (12/1) much to the joy of the layers.
Another Galway record was broken when the Tuesday Tote turnover amounted to a whopping #797,462 compared to #615,570 last year. What odds a record shattering Galway Plate Day tomorrow? Get there early.
