Ride of the day
When the pressure was greatest and space was at a premium, Dan King again stood up to the plate like an old pro in the Galway Hurdle. Yes, Putapoundinthejar was in top shape for his big assignment, but he made a horse described as buzzy look relatively simple.
Performance of the day
Seven Nation Army was visually awesome in the nursery and could be capable of operating in grades well above this. However, it’s difficult to get away from how good Pivotal Attack was when getting onto her favoured ease in the ground. She could have a good autumn ahead.
Market mover of the day
An afternoon full of movers. Seven Nation Army returned an extremely well-backed 13/8 winner in the nursery (opened at 9/4 in the ring and 11/4 in the morning). Likewise, Pivotal Attack was punted strongly from a morning price of 10/1 into an SP of 3/1.
Putapoundinthejar didn’t go unbacked in the main event (10/1 from a morning show of 18/1), though the well backed Tounsivator disappointed in 16th after going from 16/1 to 17/2. The 28/1 available about Cala Bonita in the morning looked a distant memory when she eased clear to win at 8/1 in the extended mile handicap. In the same contest, 10th-placed Hygge was very well backed from an opening ring show of 12/1 to an SP of 5/1.
In the finale, Run Ted Run had his backers. He was available at as big as 15/8 in the morning but had what it took to win as 5/4 favourite.
In-running carnage of the day
A number of runners put their hands up to claim in the Grade 3 novice chase late on and the market reacted accordingly. Runner-up Lady Bluebird traded near even-money on the run for home, third-placed Soir De Garde hit 11/10, the fourth Le Coq Hardi went 6/4, while 5/2 favourite Shadow Paddy was available to back at 43/1 in the closing stages.
Third-placed La Brodeuse hit close to even-money in the listed race won by Pivotal Attack, but the shortest-priced defeat in-running came in the concluding bumper. Sir Vinny, who just failed against Run Ted Run, went close to 2/5 in the closing stages (from an SP of 5/1).
Eyecatcher of the day
Assistant trainer Gary Bannon gave a positive mention to Rond Point in The Irish Field last week when discussing Bill Durkan’s Galway team, and it wasn’t hard to see why from his bumper debut fourth here. Bought out of John Murphy’s yard following a point-to-point second, he couldn’t get on terms with the leading players here but did continue to make decent headway from behind and looks capable of winning plenty of races.
Stat of the day
42 - The number of years since a jockey completed the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle double, before Dan King achieved the feat this week. What a 24 hours for the young rider.
Quote of the day
“It’s like going to the mart and not getting any money for a calf. Hopefully this is the start of it and this will turn the corner. We’ll try to make hay from now on” - Joe Murphy reflects on his dry spell since October and hopes for a fruitful end to 2026.