GUINNESS GALWAY

HURDLE

A NEAR year-long plan came to fruition in last gasp fashion as Tigris River pounced late for Joseph O’Brien and Barry Geraghty to edge a thrilling conclusion to the second of the Galway Festival’s showpiece races.

Less than two months after taking out his training licence, Joseph O’Brien saddled his first Hurdle runners in 2016, whereas Geraghty had endured his fair share of heartbreak in a race he had yet to win.

On Thursday it all came together seamlessly for the pair as Tigris River vindicated the longterm decision to target him at the latest edition of the country’s second most valuable National Hunt prize.

Last year the Montjeu gelding, who was among seven runners for owner J.P. McManus, finished a fine fifth to Clondaw Warrior and he had run just three times since then. His two most recent outings had yielded a facile conditions hurdle win at Bellewstown and a flat triumph at the Curragh so the six-year-old was clearly coming here in the form of his life.

SELECTION

With Geraghty on board, Tigris River looked the selected of the McManus runners and was returned a well-supported 5/1 second favourite. The race itself went smoothly for Tigris River and he enjoyed a trouble free run down the inner.

He was a menacing presence in behind the leaders as a closely packed group came to two out but, nearing the last, Airlie Beach and Swamp Fox had opened up a useful advantage as they did battle for top honours.

The latter, a true Galway specialist and a runner-up in Monday’s feature, raced clear on the run-in but, despite his valiant effort, he was cut down in the final yards by the oncoming Tigris River.

There was neck between the first two at the line with Airlie Beach finishing a further five lengths back in third. Joey Sasa took fourth but the 7/2 favourite and 2015 runner-up, Max Dynamite, had to settle for ninth.

“I’m over the moon. It’s great for Barry, J.P. and all the lads at home and he got a great ride from Barry,” said an elated Joseph O’Brien, who was winning the race 20 years after his father struck with the Tony McCoy-ridden Toast The Spreece. “He was probably flat out all the way as ideally he wants a bit further but his preparation had been perfect and the race went perfectly for him too.

“He ran very well in the race last year and we did have this race in mind for him for some time. As J.P. said afterwards, if he’d had another couple of pounds on his back he probably wouldn’t have gotten there. On the run-in I didn’t think he was going to get there but there is no stronger or better man than Barry to get them home.”

Geraghty was thrilled finally to capture one of the few major domestic prizes to have so far evaded his grasp.

“I got a fall from Thomas Edison at the last when he had every chance a couple of years ago. I got off Missunited another year and there was another time when I broke my nose and fractured a cheek bone, which caused me to miss the race, so when you do finally win these ones that have eluded you there is a massive buzz,” reflected Geraghty.

“The whole way through the race my horse was flat out and it was only in the last 70 yards or so did I think that he was going to get up. Joseph has produced him in superb shape and this win is a massive testament to his abilities. There’s no doubt that he’s a chip off the old block,” added the victorious jockey.