Results Galway Thu, 3rd Aug, 2023

Mars Harper goes one better on second trip to Galway

This was probably the race I should have went for at the start of the week and while the other race looked like it was cutting up, Sharjah (winner) was still in it. He came out of Tuesday's race well, we fired him out in the field yesterday and he was bucking and squealing so we said we'd take our chance. He is a tough horse and ran to a good level over hurdles. There are a good few of Pioneer Racing down here for the festival and hopefully we might get another win with him.

Odds-on Hercule Du Seuil impresses again

I thought it was a great performance because it's not long since he raced down at Killarney and he loves racing on flat tracks. I thought coming here, and coming up the hill twice, might be a step too far and it was a tough assignment. Mark even thought before the race that he was dead in himself and thinks the horse is settling and learning to relax. That will help him see out longer trips and have more at the end of his races. We'll run him in any two (miles) to 2m2f races we can find.

Laughifuwant strikes for the Keanes

The draw the last day didn't help and while it didn't look as bad as it was, he was pushed wide and couldn't get in. He was already declared to run today and when Colin got off him he said to take our chance if rain came and Eva (Forde) was happy to run. We weren't over-confident with the ground as he wants it soft but he is an eight-year-old now and we won't mollycoddle him too much. He won the Ahonoora in 2019, the Cambridgeshire in 2020 and was rated 106 at one stage. He was a black-type horse and had been dining at the top table but is down in grade now. It worked out today thank God!

Miramis snares Listed prize under Browne McMonagle

Fahey on the mark again with The Big Doyen

Fair play to the lads as they had to make the call not to sell him after he won two bumpers. He enjoys being left alone to bowl along in front and in fairness to Kevin he always said to step him up in distance but I couldn't see it myself because he was so keen over two-miles. Last winter he didn't go on the heavy ground and it wasn't working out for us. He went up in trip and letting him bowl along in races has suited and he wants nice ground. I think he will be a cracking horse over fences but we'll see where things go over hurdles first. He is electric to jump and I think will be the same over fences. He is a nice horse going forward. this is great for the lads, they're having great craic from it and hopefully they get plenty luck with him. We've had a great week, some of my horses ran moderately but had genuine excuses and we'll definitely enjoy tonight!

Zarak The Brave wins a thrilling Galway Hurdle

Only one four-year-old that I'm aware of (Perugino Diamond in 2000) has won the race before and it says something about how tough the horse is. Paul was fantastic on him and had him out in the right position the whole way around. There was no point in winning another small winners' race with him so you look at iconic races like this when you have horses like this. I wasn't too far away from Noel Meade in the stand and thought my horse was beaten so it is tough on Noel whose horse was second last year and third in 2021. Paul thought he was beaten too but when he changed his whip and hit him one smack the horse got down and galloped again. That just shows how brave he is. He looked a really decent horse when he won his maiden hurdle but got a colic last winter and had to put him by for the season. But it is all worthwhile now and he is obviously a graded horse and his previous form with Lossiemouth looks huge now.

155/1 Galway double for Browne McMonagle

He was bought to be a Galway festival horse and it's not too often you come to Galway and a plan comes together. He had a lovely run at Ballinrobe on his first run back and we train our horses for here - it is relief more than anything!. He is owned by a great 10-member syndicate (Street Wise Syndicate) from all over Ireland and our syndicates are supporting us well so this is a lovely place to be. He is in again on Saturday so we'll see how he is but he will be a hurdler in time as well - that's the route he'll go.

Mullins completes treble with odds-on bumper winner

It was nice compensation after being disqualified the last time and he might go hurdling now rather than go for a winners' bumper. He has won a point to point for Colin Bowe and he looks a staying type. He could be a nice staying novice hurdler.