1 The buzz was back in the betting ring

The good weather had a lot to do with it but maybe, just maybe, there is still life in the Irish on-course market. The results could have been better for the bookies but overall the layers were delighted to see punters flocking into the ring and doing business. Turnover was up an incredible 50% on Galway Hurdle day.

2 Will Jamaica be Galway’s next Group 1 winner?

Dermot Weld may have won Monday night’s two-year-old maiden 22 times but punters were pretty certain he wouldn’t make it 23 this year. All the money was for Aidan O’Brien’s Jamaica, who was quickly backed into odds-on once the markets opened. The Weld-trained Postulation had no chance with this Galileo colt, who looks set to make an impression in one of the big end-of-season two-year-old races. Will he join the Galway Group 1 roll of honour which includes Go And Go, Timarida, Market Booster, Dance Design, Voleuse Du Coeurs and the O’Brien-trained Aristotle, all of whom won races at Galway on their way to the top?

3 Tony Martin is the go-to trainer for these feature races.

After his eight winners at last year’s meeting, Tony Martin told us he didn’t have the same ammunition this time around. Then he wins two of the four feature races between Monday and Thursday. Quick Jack made light of his long absence in the two-mile amateur handicap and he looks sure to win more big races on the flat and over hurdles for seasons to come. Quick Jack was too far down the weights to get into the Galway Hurdle but, never mind, stablemate Thomas Edison had it in the bag anyway.

4 How much did Timiyan have up his sleeve?

The handicapper knew all about this Dermot Weld hotpot. Citing a new policy which flags up when a horse is engaged in a handicap run over a significantly different distance than which it raced over previously, the handicapper withdrew Timiyan’s published mark of 77 when the Aga Khan bred was entered here. However, following consultations within the Turf Club and the trainers’ association, the handicapper agreed to suspend implementation of the policy for now and Timiyan was allowed to run off 77. The rest is history. Timiyan goes up 16lb for his five-length win. Irish Cesarewitch next?

5 What does Sretaw have to do to win a race this season?

Trained by Gavin Cromwell for owner Eamon Waters, Sretaw (Waters spelt backwards) has now finished second six times in a row, following runner-up finishes on Tuesday night and Thursday afternoon.

6 Should Antique Platinum have been thrown out?

The closing race on Tuesday evening produced a lengthy stewards’ inquiry before the odds-on favourite Antique Platinum was confirmed the winner. Pat Smullen’s mount undoubtedly caused interference to the second and third placed horses passing the furlong marker but she did pull clear in the closing stages to win by two lengths.

“Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the Judge’s placings and took no further action.” That’s grand, thanks.

7 Galway’s Got Talent

Every year Galway showcases a few up-and-coming riders to follow. This year’s batch included Gary Halpin (Vastonea) and Finny Maguire (Whitey O’Gwaun) but the X-Factor winner has to be Shane Shortall, who left it late on Greatness and then did it from the front on Road To Riches.

8 Team McManus tactics in the Plate

What were the seven of them at, all loitering at the rear like that, confusing the poor commentators with their hooped jerseys and fancy caps? Hello, there is a race going on up front. And poor Kid Cassidy didn’t deserve to meet his demise. Like all McManus-owned horses, I‘m sure he had the best of everything throughout his career, everything except a bit of luck. Thank you, Kid, you were a fair tool when everything went right for you.

9 Is Ridestan the new Inis Meain?

Watch out, Denis Hogan has another live one on his hands here. This Aga Khan-bred had two very uninspiring runs for Michael Halford last autumn before going to the sales, where Denis picked him up for €6,500. One more flat outing this spring saw him earn a handicap mark of 55, a rating he showed to be all wrong on his handicap debut at Killarney last month. Raised 7lb for that win, he made all to win again at Galway on Thursday and there looks to be plenty more in the locker. Ridestan has also won over hurdles for Hogan and finished second in the opening novice hurdle at Galway on Monday night, suggesting he could emulate the stable’s Inis Meain in becoming a very useful dual-purpose performer.

10 Best performance of the week?

Easy one. Missunited by a mile.