Galway Friday Review

Rising star Rory Cleary landed another big handicap prize when producing High Priestess with a perfectly timed challenge in the €70,000 Guinness Handicap.

Cleary gained the biggest win of his fledgling career aboard Palace Star in the McDonogh Handicap on Tuesday and was recording his second success of the week when getting Michael O’Brien’s filly up inside the final furlong to beat Former Senator by a length-and-a-half.

The winner, sent off a 5/1 shot, had finished fourth in the GPT Handicap for amateur riders on Monday night, when she was partnered by the trainer’s assistant Dennis Cullen.

“She gave me a great spin on Monday but was a bit rusty as she hadn’t run since Christmas. That left her spot on. She won here last year so there was no doubt about her coming up the hill,” said Cullen.

Stage Affair finished with a rattle to get up close home in an incident packed Tony O’Malley Memorial Handicap Chase.

The winner was badly hampered by the fall of Wouldn’t You Agree (6/1f) at the first fence and was towards the rear throughout.

David Casey’s mount still had a lot of ground to make up turning for home but responded well to the jockey’s urgings to get the better of Green Finger by a length-and-a-half.

“David gave him a lovely ride. There were a lot of casualties out there. He ran a good race here on Tuesday (when third),” said winning trainer Dermot Weld afterwards.

Starrystarrynight left her debut run well behind when scoring in the Smirnoff Black Ice Maiden under Jamie Spencer.

The daughter of Sadler’s Wells finished last of 11 first time out in a listed contest at Gowran Park but found this easier and led rounding the final turn for a three-length victory over 50/1 shot Sloats Burg.

Swiss Roll gained revenge on Sandy Owen by a short-head in the Harp Lager Race having previously filled third spot behind that rival at Killarney.

Pease Blossom took the opening Carlsberg Lager (QR) Handicap Hurdle while the admirable Mr Jayjay made it three wins in four starts when an impressive winner of the Smirnoff Ice Maiden.