FOR the third year in succession Brian Ellison worked the oracle in the €100,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Ahonoora Handicap as Dream Walker came from a seemingly hopeless position to land the final day feature.

Ellison, whose representatives have become one of the staples of this meeting, saddled four runners in this bid to maintain his stranglehold on this prize. This quartet were headed by the dual winner Baraweez but a last gasp charge from Dream Walker (7/1) meant that the seven-year-old carried the day on his second outing of the week.

Some 12 years ago this race was pivotal in launching the career of then 10lb claimer Chris Hayes (who rode Amourallis to victory) and this season’s Irish 2000 Guineas-winning jockey once again shone in somehow getting his mount home in front.

From his wide draw Dream Walker slotted in towards the rear of the field and he was still last as the runners turned for home. Finding a gap to challenge was akin to threading the eye of a needle, but Hayes came off the rail and somehow secured an opening to deliver his effort.

Dream Walker then burst through inside the last 150 yards to grab Reckless Endeavour, the only three-year-old in the line-up, in the closing strides. Tribal Path, who blazed a trail from an outside draw, ran a splendid race to finish just half a length back in third.

“It was a great ride and he didn’t panic. They got racing a fair way out but Chris used his head, took his time and got the gaps at the right time,” said Ellison, who trains the gelding for Keith Brown.

“I thought this horse would win over a mile on Thursday (finished third) and he came out of that so we let him take his chance even though he is more of a miler. It’s only a few runs ago that this horse was on the scrapheap. We got his wind done and he didn’t seem to want to know, but a tongue strap has made a huge difference to him.”

TITLE BATTLE

The final day witnessed the culmination of the enthralling week long battle between Willie Mullins and Dermot Weld for the Chanelle Leading Trainer Award. From Friday onwards the competition ebbed and flowed, but a closing day double sealed victory for Mullins. He sent out nine winners to Weld’s six and won the points-based competition by 58 points to 54. This was the first time since 1997 that title has not gone to Rosewell House.

Alelchi Inois and Devils Bride, who finished second and fourth respectively in the Galway Plate, headed Willie Mullins’ final day assault and both recorded impressive wins.

First, Alelchi Inois totally outclassed his opponents in the At The Races Chase. On their running in the Plate, Alelchi Inois and Clarcam were closely matched but it was all change on this occasion. The 4/9 favourite, who is owned by Luke McMahon, jumped superbly for Ruby Walsh and handed out a 32-length trouncing to his aforementioned rival.

“They went a good pace, which suited as his jumping came into play,” said Mullins. “He’s a great jumper, likes nice ground and will get an entry in the Kerry National, but it’s much more likely that he will head for the (Grade 1) Gran Premio Merano in Italy in September.”

Devils Bride (13/8) then turned out under top-weight in the Lord Hemphill Handicap Chase and he too looked a class apart under Ruby Walsh. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned 150-rated nine-year-old showed that he should have no trouble switching back to graded company in the autumn. He jumped supremely well and picked up smartly after the last two fences to collar Draycott Place before going on to win by eight lengths.

“We’ve got a jockey riding at the peak of his powers and this horse is a brilliant jumper,” said Mullins. “I’d say good ground is important for him and that would determine where he goes. If the ground was suitable, the Grade 2 at Gowran in early October could be a race for him.”

Dermot Weld’s concluding victory of the week came courtesy of the unexposed Tarazani (15/8) in the JPK Fencing Handicap over a mile and three-quarters. This Aga Khan-owned three-year-old boasted a compelling piece of form in his third to Harzand at Cork in March.

Not only has the winner gone on to complete the Derby double, but Tarazani’s effort that day saw him split the Group 2 winner Sword Fighter and high-class handicapper Qatari Hunter. On his first outing since then, Tarazani moved to the head of the field inside the last couple of furlongs and always looked to be in control for Pat Smullen. He crossed the line a length ahead of Ondamoura.

“His form had a decent look to it and he’s won nicely. He’ll go for a similar handicap next,” reported the trainer’s son, Kris.

DERSERVING

There was hardly a more deserving all week than Camlann (5/1), who followed two placed efforts earlier in the meeting with a victory in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

A first Galway Festival success for Rachel Blackmore, the gelding was also providing Shark Hanlon and owner Annette Mee with a measure of compensation for Hidden Cyclone’s narrow defeat in the Galway Hurdle.

Camlann (5/1) saw off the unlucky Afatcat by three-quarters of a length. The latter’s jockey, Chris Timmons, excelled himself having been forced to ride without his irons from the second last.

“He deserves a good break after that,” said Hanlon. “I blame myself for him getting beaten over hurdles on Monday, I should have put the hood on him and, on the flat a few days later he just didn’t get a run at the right time. It’s great for Rachel, who has been knocking on the door all week and I’m thrilled to have a winner here for the Mee family.”

Garri Rua (14/1) picked an opportune time to register the first success of his career as the step to three miles in the Galway Shopping Centre Handicap Hurdle brought about a career-best display from the Garrett Power inmate. The Danny Mullins-ridden gelding had most of the field beaten off turning in but the 11/8 favourite Sea Light was poised in a menacing second as the last flight loomed. However, after his luckless defeat on Wednesday, Sea Light crashed out after the last and this left Garri Rua to come home half a dozen lengths ahead of Bye Bye O Bye. This was another handicap that contained no shortage of incident with the last two hurdles claiming five casualties.

“He deserved that and Danny made up his mind for him there, he’s one that doesn’t do a stroke in front. The step up in trip was a big help to him as well,” commented Power, who trains the gelding for his breeder Thomas O’Neill.

first winner

Remarkably, Jamie Codd rode the first Galway Festival victory of his career when Adrian Keatley’s Mountain Rock (10/1) captured the Fr Breen Memorial (Pro-Am) Flat Race, which brought the 52-race marathon to a close.

The Killarney bumper winner was hard at work when the odds-on First Figaro kicked on over two furlongs to run, but he stuck to his task really well on the punishing uphill run-in and got to the front in the last furlong. The son of Mountain High crossed the line with three-quarters of a length to spare.

“That’s my first Galway winner after 16 years trying. It’s nice to get the monkey off my back,” declared Codd. “Today was a step up for this horse and he handled it well. He’s not too bad.”

The John Oxx-trained Nonetheless (5/2), who had shown up well in two useful Curragh maidens, got off the mark in the Kenny Galway EBF Fillies Maiden. From a good New Zealand-based family, this James Ancell-owned daughter of Fastnet Rock was left doing battle with Gabardine when the evens favourite Mounira gave best turning in.

Declan McDonogh’s mount than established a definite advantage early in the last furlong en route to a one and three-quarter-length triumph over Remarkable Lady.

“She had a good run last time and a delayed preparation for that race so she came on from that run,” reported Oxx, whose charge could be back here for next month’s Oyster Stakes. “She has a turn of foot and stays well, which is a good combination for Galway.”