Ansar takes Guinness Galway Hurdle

Course specialist Ansar provided trainer Dermot Weld with his third winner in the valuable Guinness Galway Hurdle after capturing today's #110,000 feature in convincing fashion.

Weld first won the race in 1975 with Spanner and most recently with Strathline in 1985. Darialann went close for him last year but was agonisingly outfoxed by Perugino Diamond in the straight.

Determined to reverse matters this year Weld had three in the race with Ansar (6 to 1) making the strongest case after a 12lb penalty for Monday night's victory brought him into the handicap proper.

'I have been planning this for a long time and it really makes up for the defeat of Darialann last year, he just did it so well,' said the delighted trainer.

Weld added: 'He was a little bit out of the handicap but Monday's win was a nice primer. The race worked out exactly how myself and Paul (Carberry) planned it.'

Paul Carberry had held the winner in mid division throughout the two mile bustling contest until making good progress to lead before the second last.

Having got the measure of the weakening Vivo and The Gatherer, Carberry kept his mount tight to the inside rail where they popped the last and battled on up the hill to record a three length victory over The Gatherer.

The gambled on English raider Ulundi (4 to 1 - 5/2 favourite) never got into the race and faded in the final two furlongs to finish a distant fifth from last.

Hopes of Grimes recording a historic double after winning yesterday's featured Galway Plate suffered a blow this morning when the eight-year-old was reported off feed and would not take his place at the starting line.

Weld doubled up, before the record breaking crowd of 38,641, when Celtic Lore atoned for his defeat last year in the Smithwicks Handicap, taking the trainer's total for the week to seven.

The nine-year-old only just lost out in the race 12 months ago but made no mistake this time - going for home two furlongs out and staying on to beat the fast-finishing Keeping The Faith by three-parts of a length.

'This is the race last year that we won but didn't win,' recalled Weld. 'I thought we would get between 8 and 10 winners this week and we are on target.'

Trainer Pat Hughes secured his fourth winner of the meeting when Akasian, in the hands of Charlie Swan, made light work of his 15 rivals to win the St James's Gate Handicap Hurdle by nine lengths.

Akasian, carrying top weight, traveled handily throughout and looked poised to challenge in behind weakening leaders Rightontime and Oneofthesimpsons after jumping the second last.

Swan kicked on rounding the turn but Akasian needed little encouragement from the nine times champion jockey, sticking to the task in hand. Hughes indicated the winner would 'probably return over fences' here on Sunday.

Tom Queally, catapulted into the spotlight here last year after riding Tushna to victoryin the McDonagh Handicap, summoned up a brilliant drive to steer Leaffoney to victory in the Guinness EBF Handicap.

Winning trainer Edward Mitchell appeared relieved with the 16 to 1 chance's victory stating: 'That will do now as long as she has won! .....I was going to go to the handicapper if he didn't drop her soon.'

Carina Bay, second here in a 2m 6f contest on Tuesday, made a snappy recovery from a blunder in the back straight to win the opener in fine style.

Long time leader Coq De Mirande had the field at a stretch with half a mile to race. Carina Bay met the sixth last all wrong but recovered sufficiently to collar the leader rounding the turn and quicken for an eleven length victory.

'I hope the handicapper doesn't crucify him for doing his best all the time,' quipped trainer Sean Treacy. 'He will take a months break now but if the ground gets softer then he will take a longer holiday.'

Trainer Charles Byrnes will keep Golden Row novice hurdling after his charge got the better of Hill Port by a neck in a thrilling finish to the two and a half mile Harp Lager Novice Hurdle.

'We are going to make as much use of him as we can because he qualifies as a novice until May. He will run at Tralee and Listowel before taking a winter break,' said Byrnes.

Philip O'Brien produced Golden Row upsides Hill Port at the last and put in a better leap, nipping a slight advantage on the run in. The two horses battled admirably inside the final 50 yards but O'Brien had done just enough at the line.

Mick Halford admitted afterwards that Gerobies Girl has struggled to win a race but she opened her account in fine style when wearing down Lily Dale to lose her maiden tag in the Guiness Handicap.

Paul Roche recorded his 12th training success since receiving his license last Winter when Fey Macha won the concluding Guinness Extra Cold flat race. Odds on favourite Walnut Creek (4 to 5) disappointed after fading badly to finish fifth.

Norman Williamson has been stood down for 24 hours after aggravating a soft tissue injury to his ankle. He sustained the injury in a fall from Galway plate runner up Quinze at a recent Tipperary meeting.