Tigris River got up in the shadow of the post to win the Guinness Galway Handicap Hurdle on Thursday.

Swamp Fox looked the likely winner when he headed Airlie Beach at the final flight, but Barry Geraghty gained ground hand over fist on the run-in and was rewarded for his efforts on the Joseph O'Brien-trained six-year-old.

Geraghty, the retained jockey to owner J.P. McManus, only returned from injury on Monday but showed plenty of strength in the saddle to snatch the €177,000 first prize on the 5/1 chance, who was fifth 12 months ago.

Grade 1-winning mare Airlie Beach kept on gamely for third place, with Joey Sasa fourth.

There was drama at the first flight when Ivan Grozny, Court Minstrel and Ancient Sands all came down.

Victory was extra special for the winning trainer, as it was 20 years ago that his father Aidan got his name on the roll of honour with Toast The Spreece.

"Barry gave him a great ride. The horse was probably flat out the whole way because he was probably a bit further back than ideal," O'Brien said of Tigris River, who won by a neck.

"I'm delighted as the preparation went perfect, but I didn't think he'd get there at the last. There's no stronger man in the saddle than Barry, though."

Geraghty said: "I said to Barry (Browne, rider of Swamp Fox) pulling up that you'll have 20 years to win one of these as that's how long I've been trying.

"Joseph had this fella in great shape. Having said that, he never looked a winner until the death. I wasn't confident of getting to the one in front, but my horse was brave."

McManus said: "Galway is a marvellous meeting and the excitement and the build-up is so important. When Punchestown goes, everyone speaks about Galway and the Plate and the Hurdle, and what you might have that you can maybe programme them for.

"Joseph did a great job with Tigris River because he's been looking after him since he ran here last year, when he didn't get the clearest of runs, and he thought maybe we should head back here this year.

"Joseph deserves this success, he's very dedicated - the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

"Barry's had a good Galway and it's great to have him back, he showed great strength to get him home, from the last especially."

DAD'S A WINNER

Joseph O'Brien's father Aidan got off the mark for the week at Galway when Music Box gained a deserved listed win in the Arthur Guinness Irish EBF Corrib Fillies Stakes.

The Ballydoyle handler hasn't had that many runners here this week, to be fair, but has kept Music Box (4/1 joint-favourite) busy during her first campaign, of which this was the 13th outing.

She tracked pacesetter Duchess Of France until hitting the front inside the final quarter-mile and then held the challenge of Drumfad Bay, who beat Music Box to a listed prize at Killarney last month, by a length and a half.

Winning jockey Donnacha O'Brien said: "I got a nice position and she stayed on nicely when I asked her. She had some good runs and she could progress further."

JOSEPH'S DOUBLE

The afternoon began with another winner for trainer Joseph O'Brien as Tesseract took the Guinness Galway Gold Beginners Chase.

A faller on his fencing bow but then second to the promising Conrad Hastings at Kilbeggan, the 7/1 chance shared pacemaking duties with Bosman Rule until J.J. Slevin set sail for home after jumping the last.

Tesseract's fancied stablemate Oathkeeper came down at that obstacle when on the heels of the leaders, and it was left to last year's third Dont Tell No One to throw down the final challenge.

Tesseract was determined in front, though, and kept going to pass the post with a neck in hand.

O'Brien said: "J.J gave him a lovely positive ride and was good and positive on him. His jumping was much better today and I'm delighted.

"He has never run at that trip until now and it would make sense to stick to that trip now, and we'll find a novice next."

MULLINS SCORES

The Willie Mullins-trained Rathvinden justified late market support to claim top honours in the Grade 3 Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase.

The nine-year-old has had his fair share of problems since finishing third behind stable companion Faugheen in the 2014 Neptune at Cheltenham, but broke through at the third attempt over fences with a clear-cut victory at Wexford last month.

Our Dougal put the pace to the race until headed by Potters Point at the last, with Peregrine Run and Rathvinden going in pursuit.

Mullins' 7/2 joint-favourite found another gear for Paul Townend and strode five lengths away from Potters Point, with Peregrine Run third.

The winner's stablemate Townshend and Jessica Harrington's Don't Touch It were the other joint-favourites but couldn't get involved at the business end, while Landofhopeandglory was still to play his hand when coming down two out.

Mullins said: "He jumped great. He was taken off his feet a bit early on but once he got into his jumping rhythm, it all depended on what the ones up front had left.

"Paul was happy enough that he had plenty up his sleeve and it worked out. He missed a lot of time through injury but he's fine now and he had the rating and he had the form. He was only three or four lengths behind Faugheen as a novice hurdler.

"He'll keep novice chasing through the summer and the end game might be the Drinmore if he keeps going the right way."

The champion trainer continued: "He missed a lot of time through injury but now he seems fine.

"We now know that they (the racecourse) will give us nice ground and have a nice new watering system here, so you have to challenge and bring your horses here and have them right. It's the place to be in the summer. We're targeting jump racing as opposed to the Flat but have been lucky this week in the flat races. The jumps prize money is very good here and when you look at the standard of any of the novice races here this week, it is as good as it'll be all winter and it's a tough place to win.

"Ruby (Walsh) couldn't really get off Townshend but Rathvinden was working really well during the week and Ruby mentioned to me that he might ride Rathvinden and I just said it would be difficult to get off Townshend. So it's my fault!

"It's Townshend's trip and wasn't Rathvinden's trip and maybe the rain that fell over the last 24 hours changes things a bit."

ANOTHER FOR DAVIS

Sean Davis registered his second victory of the 2017 Galway Festival when driving home Remarkable Lady in the Guinness Draught Handicap.

The 7lb claimer struck on Perfect Soldier here on Wednesday evening and was seen to good effect again, timing his challenge just right on Harry Rogers' 16/1 shot.

Galway specialist Cairdiuil belied his advancing years and a big price to head the front-running Tribal Path at the top of the straight but he was mown down by Remarkable Lady, who went away by a length and a half.

"He's a very good apprentice. It made the difference, the 7lb, and he knows the filly very well - he won on her in Navan," said Rogers. "It's great she done it the way she did.

"She always promised plenty, even as a two-year-old. It's probably just took time for her to strengthen up. It's nice ground - not soft - so I wasn't worried on that score. They went a gallop and it suited her. She's in a fillies' handicap at Cork and she's in a mile-and-two at Roscommon coming up."

Stamina won the day as Oakly stayed on best of all to land the Guinness Novice Hurdle.

Robin Des Foret had the winner back in fourth when scoring at Roscommon last month and having made the running, slipped the field on the run to the penultimate flight.

His stable companion Lac Kivu was favourite but didn't perform, leaving Oakly to emerge as the chief threat and after jumping the last a couple of lengths down, Paul Fahey's 12/1 shot stuck his head down and galloped all the way to the line.

He prevailed by half a length from Robin Des Foret to give jockey Paddy Kennedy his second victory of the Festival.

Paul Fahey's brother Peter saddled his second winner of the week when Dayna Moss (7/4) won the closing bumper by nine lengths.

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