Sheer Tenby wins Galway feature

Apprentice Colm O'Donoghue recorded his biggest race success to date after skillfully steering Sheer Tenby to victory in the fiercely contested #100,000 McDonogh EBF Handicap on day two of the Galway festival tonight.

The McDonogh Handicap had always been a long term target for connections of Sheer Tenby ever since Mick Kinane recommended the contest after winning on the horse at Leopardstown in June.

Plans, however, hit a serious setback last month when the gelding returned 'chronically lame' from the Golden Pages Handicap after tearing off a shoe and badly injuring the inside of a hoof.

Naturally, Paul Roche - training his eleventh winner since receiving his license last November - revealed that today's win was 'a bit special'.

'Last Wednesday was the first time he was ridden since getting injured...he then did a bit of work a couple of days ago and the lad who rides him at home said he wouldn't be far away today,' beamed Roche

The 20 strong field were stretched evenly rounding the bend but O'Donoghue stole a peep on the inside and forged into a length lead coming off the turn.

O'Donoghue (20), was hard at work on the 20 to 1 shot and needed to be at his best to stave off the challenge of the Dermot Weld-trained Free to Speak and the fast finishing Scottish Memories by half-a-length and one length respectively.

Saranac Lake looked a useful sort when just touched off at Leopardstown last time and appeared to relish the extra furlong when skating to victory in the McDonogh Feeds EBF maiden.

Pat Smullen's mount was smartly away from the stalls and made all to deny the fast finishing Venus De Milo by three lengths.

Dermot Weld, who said the winner ran 'very green', penciled the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh as her next outing.

'I don't think Galway is an ideal track for her, she didn't handle it that well but she gets the trip and is a nice filly,' he said.

Weld, trainer of two winners yesterday, then doubled up once more when Whisper Light scored a three-quarter length victory over Florida Villas in

the McDonogh Interiors Maiden.

Christy Roche and jockeyPaul Moloney combined early in the day to gift owner JP McManus a memorable double by landing the opening two races.

Hardiman's 'experience' played a telling role in outfoxing challenger Carina Bay in the Albatros Plant Nutrition Chase. The duo were left clear when the front running Valley Erne blundered badly at the fourth last.

Jumping the last, Moloney conjured up a brilliant leap from his mount, stealing a length-and-a-half off Carina Bay on landing. Hardiman was left clear rounding the turn and trundled up the straight for a two-and-a-half length score.

'He used to jump badly but we sent him to Tom Busteed for the winter and that corrected him,' said Roche of the winner.

Hardiman's prospects were made that bit easier when 3 to 1 joint favourite Tisrabraq dumped Ruby Walsh after an awkward landing at the first.

Young Whack (3 to 1 jf), who bizarrely tested positive for nicotine after a recent win at Tipperary, had been held in a prominent position throughout but came undone after the third last.

Mc Manus' distinctive colours were carried to glory in the opener when 5 to 4 favourite Get It On romped home an impressive seven length victory.

Trainer Christy Roche stressed that he would be 'keeping it simple' with the winner with a view to chasing in the future.

Paul Moloney's mount was travelling smoothly from the six furlong marker before kicking for home after the second last. With Columba and Royal Bart struggling behind, Moloney pushed out in the straight before easing down for a tidy win.

Boley Lass's success in the McDonogh At Home Handicap proved a welcome winner for trainer Pat Flynn, who has endured a lean few months.

Danny Grant gained a smooth passage through on the rail turning into the straight and the pair battled well to beat Rachael's Delight by a length-and-a-half.

Class Society repeated her success of last year when landing the concluding McDonogh Builders Trade Centre Handicap over two miles in the hands of 18-year-old Rachel Costello, who was riding her second winner.

Today's official attendance of 22,616 is a record crowd for a Tuesday at the Galway festival and was up 3,621 on the same day last year.