AFTER nearly two hours of an engaging appeal hearing at Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board headquarters, the result of the 2025 Guinness Galway Hurdle remains as it was - with an appeals panel confirming Ndaawi as the winner and determining that the raceday stewards did not err in their decision to demote Helvic Dream to second.

There were dramatic scenes at the Galway Festival 13 days ago when the stewards decided to reverse the placings of the €270,000 feature race, and the matter was finally put to bed after a lively discussion on Wednesday where countless angles and viewpoints were pored over extensively. Immediately after the panel retired to come to a verdict, there was a sense that the outcome could go either way.