Galway Friday Review

Tipperary trainer Mark Loughnane saddled his biggest winner to-date when Forthright recorded a game victory in the featured ?70,000 Guinness Handicap before 30,003 patrons at Ballybrit this evening.

Budweiser Irish Derby winning jockey Seamie Heffernan shot the five-year-old, who was second to Do The Trick over the course on Wednesday, clear two furlongs out and the pair just held the late rattle of Charlie Swan's High Reef when scoring by a neck.

David Wachman's Consulate ran a fine race for Kieren Fallon in third a further one length adrift with Tango Foxtrot back in fourth.

Loughnane, who trains the 15/2 winner for Mrs Bernadette Quinn at his Holycross stables, explained: 'I think this is a very good horse and I blame myself for getting him beaten the last day. I told Paul Townend, who rode him then, to kick going down the hill and he went too soon. Paul would have ridden him again tonight, but he's suspended. Seamie (Heffernan) gave him a terrific drive. I've had a lot of second's here over the past few years and it's great to get the right result in such a valuable race. While today was very much the plan, we'll probably go to Tralee with him next.'

Ger Lyons' Common Charisma was a poignant winner of the 12-furlong Galway Publican's E.B.F. maiden for her Westmeath owner Imelda O'Shaughnessy.

Ridden by Niall McCullagh, the Highest Honour-sired grey stuck to her task well inside the final furlong when beating Chesapeake by half a length.

Lyons explained: 'This is Imelda's first winner in her own colours. Her husband was a very loyal supporter of mine until he died earlier this year. He purchased this horse from Moyglare Stud and sent her to me. Sadly, he wasn't here today to see her win this evening.'

Valamareha, third to Emily Blake here on Monday, hacked up in one-mile Arthur Guinness Handicap for Meath trainer Aiden Howard.

Chris Hayes gave the winner the office off the home-bend and the duo sprinted up the hill to beat a never-nearer Coral Creek by four and a half lengths.

'I was afraid she wouldn't get the mile, but she did that well. I've a good team behind me at home and things are going great,' reflected Howard in the winner's enclosure.

Mick Kinane and John Oxx combined to land the closing Guinness Auction Maiden when Really Ransom came from off the pace to beat Invincible Joe by two lengths.

Oxx wasn't present, but Kinane commented: 'They went very fast early on which gave her a chance to get organized. She came home well in the end.'