Davy Crockett continues family tradition in Galway opener

With his mother and half-brother both successful at the Galway Races, Davy Crockett continued the family tradition in the opening Galway Bay Hotel & The Galmont Hotel Novice Hurdle.

The beautifully bred Willie Mullins-trained bay impressed on debut at Punchestown in June and was widely expected to follow-up today, on what was his first try over flights.

Returned the 1/2 favourite, the JP McManus and Sue Magnier-owned son of Camelot raced mainly in third under Mark Walsh, blundering on the inner at the second last.

Quickly recovering and soon improving to challenge in second, he edged to the front before the final flight and was pushed out on the run-in to score by two-and-a-half lengths.

The front-running Mick Collins (4/1 from 11s) had to settle for second under Michael Kenneally for Noel Meade, while Chortal (16/1) was another seven-lengths back in third.

"I was very happy with how efficient his jumping was except for the mistake at the second last," Mullins reflected.

"For a horse having his first run over hurdles and just the second run of his career, I was very pleased with him.

"We'll just keep going down the novice hurdle route and hopefully he might make into a Royal Bond horse.

"He could go to Listowel before then."

STEWARDS REPORT

At the request of the Raceday Stewards, B.P. Kennedy, rider of Jurality (GB), trained by Paul W. Flynn, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount missed the second last hurdle and ran on passed tired horses.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee