Galway Saturday Review

Gemini Guest was a hugely popular winner of the €50,000 Dawn Milk Handicap Hurdle as the Galway Hurdle runner-up gained a deserved pay day at Ballybrit.

Jim Culloty was seen at his brilliant best on Pat Hughes’ gelding as he conjured a renewed effort to lead after the last and beat Supreme Being by half-a-length.

The 5/1 favourite returned to a packed winners’ enclosure as his local owners, the Gemini Syndicate, gave a rousing rendition of the Fields Of Athenry.

“I must have had ten favourites in this race over the years but never won it until today. I was hoping that he wouldn’t be favourite,” revealed Hughes.

“Jim said he didn’t jump a hurdle and it’s a good job I bandaged him up behind. He hasn’t been 100 per cent right behind in three years and pulls out a bit stiff in the mornings.”

There was drama in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery Handicap when Redrightreturning clipped heals with Starling entering the straight and fell, giving jockey Kevin Manning a nasty tumble.

Manning took a while to rise after the incident and was taken to hospital for x-rays on his shoulder. A Stewards inquiry concluded that the fall had been accidental.

The race went to Alayan (7/2f), who was produced with a sustained run in the straight by Mick Kinane and wore down long-time leader Monashee Star inside the final 200yds for a length victory.

Aidan O’Brien’s Scandanavia got off the mark at the third time of asking when justifying odds of 1/3 in the Dawn Hi and Lo EBF Maiden. The colt took a while to find top gear in the straight but eventually scored by a comfortable two lengths from Set In Motion.

“We always thought he was a nice colt and couldn’t believe that he got beat the first two times. He’ll step up to listed or group company now,” said O’Brien.

O’Brien teamed up again with MV Magnier to land the bumper with newcomer Bronco Charlie (6/4f), following up on the success of King Of Spades on Monday.

Rory Cleary chalked up his third winner of the week when Rooftop Protest pegged back long-time leader Sophiyah turning for home in the Dawn Omega Milk Handicap.

Danny Howard received praise from winning trainer Arthur Moore after steering Alexander Fourball to success in the Low Low Galway Blazers Handicap Chase.