Guinness Galway Hurdle Handicap

LESS than 24 hours on from capturing the Tote Galway Plate on his previous ride, Dan King wore Ballybrit’s biggest crown once again in the Guinness Galway Hurdle - becoming first jockey to complete the feature-race brace since 1984 aboard a dominant Putapoundinthejar.

A truly spectacular time for the 21-year-old jockey was one of a number of standout stories to emerge from this year’s Ladies Day highlight, with Tony Martin expertly preparing the dual-purpose campaigner to lift his fifth Galway Hurdle. Hot on the heels of another premier handicap victory with Orandi on Monday evening, the specialist target trainer is now only one winner shy of Willie Mullins’ modern-day record of six victories in the historic handicap.

This success came with added local significance too. The maroon and white silks of Kiltullagh, Co Galway native Ray Grehan were carried to victory by his Whitefriar Stud-bred six-year-old, who had managed to sneak in at the foot of the weights for this after a trial victory at Bellewstown.

In a race where Solness and Casheldale Lad ensured there would be little hiding place, Putapoundinthejar (sent off 10/1 from a morning price of 18/1) could be seen making eye-catching progress in the between runners approaching the turn for home. King - snaring a second €270,000 pot in as many days - didn’t need a second invitation when a gap appeared in the home straight, and the pair ran out comprehensive winners by three and a quarter lengths from the Latta family’s most admirable mare Thisistheway (22/1).

Locally-owned Gameball was only a head away in third for Basil Holian, having looked to have a big chance on the run to the last, while Ragmans Corner did the Gerry Keane team proud in fourth under Eoghan Finegan. Long-range favourite El Cairos (5/1) never managed to stamp his authority on the race and was beaten five and a quarter lengths in seventh.

“It’s magical stuff, the stuff of dreams really,” said King, who was following in the footsteps of jockey Joe Byrne in 1984 (captired the Plate and Hurdle on Master Player and Tara Lee).

“I find Tony easy to ride for. This horse can be quite keen and buzzy, so the main thing was to switch him off and get him into a rhythm. We went a nice gallop and he settled really well, jumped class the whole way around. Wherever I wanted to go, I had the horse to take me there.

“Tony was down at the start removing the flash on the noseband. I’m delighted it all worked out. Tony has been so good to me and has given me some savage opportunities. I’m very lucky.”

Martin has been versatile in his campaigning of the 129-rated hurdler, who was the late Michael O’Sullivan’s final winner as a jockey before his tragic passing.

It would be quite the double if connections opt to try winning Saturday's Guinness Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle, better known as the consolation race for the Hurdle, after winning the main event itself.

“This has been a very lucky race for me. Galway has just been so kind to me,” said Martin.

“I ran down to the start because I could see he was getting very worked up. Luckily enough we got the flash off in him in time. He was boiling over. I ran down and thought I was 20 again!

“From the time this horse came to me as a four-year-old, this horse just needed every year to mature and now he is coming to himself.

"I didn't get to see all the race but everywhere I did get to see, he was travelling so well. He was where you wanted him to be all the time. For a lad of his age, Dan is some talent. He’s unbelievable. I haven't seen a lot with his talent in a lot of years.”

Andrew Latta was full of pride for his runner-up and added: “She ran a cracker. I thought we’d improve enough fitness-wise from when we were fourth to Putapoundinthejar to beat Tony today, but Tony had a bit more up his sleeve today - as usual!

“This is like winning four races for us in terms of the prize money. It’s more blacktype for her too. I thought she’d run a good race today and wherever Tony’s horse would finish, we’d be close to him.”

On the third-placed Gameball, Henry de Bromhead said: “I’m delighted with him. He ran really well, toughed it out and we’re delighted to finish third. Hopefully he can pick up one of those handicaps, we’ll keep trying.”