Jackpot fever dominated proceedings on the second day of the Galway September meeting yesterday with the pool swelling to a massive #201,972.50, after a double carryover, and no less than 173 lucky patrons reaping a handsome dividend of #875.60.
'In 1992 at Galway a carryover of #68,130 helped the pool to reach #249,145 but there was over 20,000 people on course that day. Today's figure, considering the crowd, is very pleasing. Off course business amounted to in excess of #50,000 and, along with cash clients, there was several four figure investments today,' said Tote spokesman Dermot Battigan.
Jim Bolger's game filly Dolydille set the ball rolling for Jackpot investors in the Ardilaun House Hotel Oyster Stakes when she picked up well for Kevin Manning running out of the dip to score by half-a-length from warm favourite Jammaal.
Speaking by phone from his Coolcullen yard, Jim Bolger, who along with Kevin Manning later completed a double with top-weight Avorado in the nursery, indicated that Dollydille might turn out again in the Listed Foxrock Stakes over ten furlongs at Leopardstown this Saturday.
Seamus Heffernan and Cashel Bay made most of the running to scoop the 2yo maiden for Aidan O'Brien, the second leg of the 'pot', while Owen Weldon's Clanboyo finished fast under Warren O'Connor much to the joy of 173 lucky jackpot investors.
Norman Williamson captured the riding honours on the national hunt front when he initiated an opening race double aboard Michael Hourigan's easy-to-back
2 to 1 market leader Moscow Retreat in the Deacy Concannon Novice Chase over two miles and a furlong.
'He didn't stay over hurdles and he doesn't over fences either. He goes on any ground and is a nice two mile chaser in the making. He'll race at Listowel in a two mile novice and then have a break until the Dennys Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, his main objective,' said the Patrickswell trainer.
Williamson was again seen to good effect when forcing Berengarius past top-weight Bamford Castle to win the two mile handicap hurdle.
'He battled real well and that was his fourth run over hurdles and a great effort in his first handicap,' said Halford who has the Lartigue 4yo Hurdle at Listowel mapped out for the former Jim Bolger inmate
For owner, Dundalk businessman Michael Woods it was a unique Galway treble, sparked off with Class Society winning at the Summer Festival and Fearsome Factor on Monday afternoon.
BF
