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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Truffles does it again in Galway

Sat 4th Aug 2018, 16:16

Connections welcome Truffles back in after her victoryConnections welcome Truffles back in after her victory
© Photo Healy Racing

Truffles grabbed her second victory at this year's Galway Festival with an authoritative display in the Ardilaun Hotel Handicap.

She ran under the 6lb penalty for winning well on Thursday but trainer Sheila Lavery booked 7lb-claimer Gavin Ryan to offset this.

Despite being drawn wide in 16, Ryan soon sent her to the front and she tanked along throughout.

She kicked approaching the home bend and was clear from her toiling rivals at the furlong pole.

The 9/2 favourite galloped home by five lengths from Dance Alone (14/1). Beau Satchel came in half a length further back in third at 6/1.

Gavin Ryan said: "It is (my first winner at Galway) and my first ride at Galway. I'm delighted to get it and Sheila has always been very good to me since I started.

"I won on this one last year in Fairyhouse and I knew after she won up here at the start of the week that when she likes a track she rarely puts in a bad effort.

"Today you can see the whole way she loved it. It's just a case of if she gets her terms out in front she gets her own fractions and after that you just have to sit on her.

"I was always waiting for something to come to me and they never did. I knew turning in she is so honest she will stay going.

"That's nine winners so things are going well. It's my third winner of this season."

Sheila Lavery added: "When Gary O'Brien asked me in an interview the last day had I her in again and I said 'I didn't' and all the way I drove home I thought 'you idiot Sheila - you idiot'.

"But in fact I did have her in again - I don't know why I had a brain freeze and thought I hadn't entered her.

"She just does her own thing and Gavin gave her a beautiful ride and I think a lot of him actually. I feel sorry for Robbie Colgan who won on her on Tuesday but I really felt she was a small light little filly and I think weight off her back is a big plus.

"I decided to claim from her as when Robbie won on her she was at the bottom of the weights and weight makes a big difference to her as she is a small little filly."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

1st
9/2Fav
Tote €5.00 €2.10
2nd
5L
14/1
€4.70
3rd
0.5L
6/1
€2.00
4th
2.5L
10/1
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.