Nolan Lands Third Galway Hurdle

For the second day in a row, it was a case of a super-sub doing the business as jockey Paddy Flood, a last-minute replacement for the injured Barry Geraghty, who suffered a broken jaw in a fall from Limerick Lord in the opening beginners chase, steered the Paul Nolan-trained, Cuan Na Grai, to an all-the-way success in the Galway Guinness Hurdle.

A record crowd of 48,120 (up 1,600 on last year) watched as Flood, who only picked up the ride on the John Brennan-owned 7/1 winner 45 minutes before the race, rode a peach of a race from the front to beat the Ruby Walsh-ridden 4/1 favourite, Shandon Star, by four lengths. The Last Hurrah claimed third a further half a length in rear.

Nolan, who played hurling for his native Wexford in the past, was recording a third success in the race having scored with Say Again in 2001 and Cloone River two-years-ago.

He said: 'That was marvellous. He's just keeps on maturing and we've always thought he was a classy animal. It is hard luck on Barry (Geraghty) to miss out on the ride, but Paddy (Flood) was brilliant on him. I'd like to pay tribute to my brother James and all the staff at home, they to all the work. We'll target the Grade I Hurdle at Cheltenham in November with him now.'

It was also a day to remember for Flood, who, hot on the heels of Roger Loughran's lucky ?spare' on Far From Trouble in Wednesday's William Hill Galway Plate, was having by far his biggest success to-date in the saddle.

'I was just in the right place at the right time,' said the modest 20-year-old Kildare pilot. He added: 'Obviously I'm sorry for Barry (Geraghty), but that's the way it goes.'

Frances Crowley opened her Festival 2006 account when 3/1 favourite, Nonchalant, just held the valiant efforts of 20/1 outsider, Crossbarry Boy (Eddie Power), to land the opening Guinness Beginners Chase.

Ruby Walsh, who was recording his third win of the week, performed miracles to keep the partnership intact when Nonchalant made a hash of the last fence, and the pair fought tigerishly on the run-in to score by a short-head.

'I'm delighted with that,' was Crowley's reaction, adding 'it is great to win here for local owner Philip Duffy, who is from just out the road. This horse deserved to win and loves that firm ground. We might come back here in September.'

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Jessica Harrington (saddled 20/1 bumper winner Glaczer Flyer here on Monday night) has her team in tip-top form and her, Gemini Lucy, turned the Guinness Novice Chase into a procession. Capably handled by promising claimer Andrew Leigh, who was partnering his first Festival winner, the 6/4 favourite jumped for fun when beating the never-nearer Kit Carson (Ruby Walsh) by eighth lengths.

Moone, Co Kildare-based Harrington, who looks after the winner for the Queens Prices Syndicate, explained: 'This mare has been a revelation this year. I was delighted with the way she jumped; we'll find another novice chase for her now.'

'A seriously tough horse,' was how trainer Pat Fahy described his Arc Lemanique, after the six-year-old, who won a maiden hurdle here on Tuesday, became the first dual-winner of the meeting when following up in the St Jame's Gate Novice Hurdle.

Held up on this occasion by Adrian Lane, the 7/1 shot stayed on strongly in the closing stages to hold off the late rattle of Coin Man (Garrett Cotter) by half a length.

The Carlow-based operator outlined: 'This is a real Galway horse. Adrian (Lane) is a great jockey and he gave the winner a terrific ride.'

Well-backed 4/6 favourite, Davenport Democrat, trailed in a disappointing fourth under Ruby Walsh.

Fahy, whose Middlemarch enjoyed no luck in running in the Galway Hurdle when rider Davy Russell lost his irons early in the race, went on to complete a double as his Dani's Girl(9/1) overturned the Kieren Fallon partnered 6/4 hot-pot, Anna Karenina, the Guinness and Oysters European Breeders Fund Fillies' Handicap.

'She had a lovely run when second at Roscommon last time, we might go to Gowran next week with her,' commented a delighted Fahy.

Jockey Danny Grant, who lost his 3Ib claim in the process, came in for praise from his boss Pat Flynn after punching the Waterford handler's, Galistic (13/2), home half a length in front of Harcas (Johnny Murtagh) in the Guinness Toucan Brew Handicap.

Flynn said: 'I was loyal to Danny(Grant) and I've been proven right. If you have a horse good enough, he'll bring him home. It's wonderful that my horses have bounced right back to form, let's hope it continues.'

English raider, Bolodenka, gave Kieren Fallon his second win of the week when coming late and fast to claim the Arthur Guinness Handicap. His UK trainer Richard Fahey indicated the strongly-supported 3/1 winner may re-appear here again on Sunday.

J.P.Magnier rode his second winner of the Festival when giving Mags Mullins, Aces Or Better, a power-packed drive to land the concluding bumper