THE fifth day at Galway produced some terrific finishes and the feature event was among them as Eagle’s Way just held on for victory in the Guinness Handicap.

Bill Durkan’s charge went to post an 8/1 shot for the €110,000 contest and bounced out to make all under Chris Hayes.

The Gleneagles gelding was strongly pressed by Chally Chute in the closing stages of the mile-and-a-half contest and was all out at the finish to hold that rival at bay by a short-head.

“It’s great for Bill and the lads, who are great supporters. This means everything to them, I think their last winner here was Quinmaster in the [2006] Galway Mile and that was a long time ago,” said assistant Gary Bannon.

“Our horses have been running well all week and hitting the crossbar so it’s just great for a small yard to come here and pick up a big pot like that. It’s a big team effort.

“He was good and tough, he doesn’t show you a lot at home. I thought when we brought him home from the sales ‘what am I after doing buying this fella!’.

“He saves it for the day. I was a little bit worried about the ground but he’s tough and he’s game.”

Rolling back the years

It was an even closer affair in the Guinness Galway Blazers with only a nose separating Battleoverdoyen and Moonovercloon at the line.

The latter came to lead a furlong from home in the two-mile-six contest but was joined by Gordon Elliott’s charge in the closing stages.

There was little between the pair late on with Danny Gilligan’s mount, who returned a 20/1 shot, just getting the verdict at the post.

“He’s a lovely horse, it’s great for Pioneer Racing and great for Danny, a local man, who was touched off in a couple of races during the week,” said Elliott.

“Battleoverdoyen was very unlucky all winter with the ground being very soft, he was struggling with his wind on real soft ground.

“He wasn’t going to have too many more chances, which just goes to show if you don’t give up. He’s been a horse of a lifetime for me, I’ve had him since he was a four-year-old.

“Obviously he’s a Grade 1 winner and to come back and win for the boys today, if he doesn’t do anything ever again he’s going to have a great life.”

ROSS O’Sullivan made it four winners from four runners at the festival when Volantis lunged late to land the Guinness Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle.

Keith Donoghue had to navigate some traffic problems on the 4/1 favourite before producing him to dispute close home.

The Workforce gelding just edged Tounsivator at the line to secure a short-head victory for the Downtown Syndicate.

Volantis had been second in the same race 12 months ago and O’Sullivan said: “The plan was to come back for this race. It’s not often it works out so it’s great. We weren’t happy at any point of the race. He’s a very hard ride because he needs cover.

“It’s relief, if you had asked me one horse that I thought would have won during the week it would have been him. The horses are really just alive. They are even fresh riding out, bucking. It’s hard to explain, they are just on the crest of a wave at the minute.”

Bessie upset

The big-priced winners continued to flow at Galway this week with the 50/1 success of Bessie Abott in the James’s Gate Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden.

Mick Mulvany’s charge overcame a tardy start in the seven-furlong contest to lead on the inner turning for home and record a two-and-a-half length under Wesley Joyce.

“We were expecting her to run a big race but we thought she might give it away at the stalls, which she did,” said Mulvany.

“She’s a half-sister to a multiple listed winner in America. We’ve known for a while that she has that kind of ability. We said we’d bring her here and give her a good education.”

Off the mark

In the other maiden on the card, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Andromeda gained a deserved win after four previous runner-up efforts.

Wayne Lordan made virtually all on the 13/8 favourite and she stayed on strongly in the closing stages to post a four-length victory over Riviera Queen.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “Wayne gave her a textbook ride. She’s a filly we’ve thought an awful lot of. Last year we thought she was a stakes filly and we still think she will be a stakes filly. The obvious race would be back here for the Oyster Stakes in September.”

PATIENCE was rewarded with Taipan as the six-year-old made a winning return to action in the Rockshore Refreshingly Irish Race.

Jessica Harrington’s charge made all in the mile-six contest, under Shane Foley, with the 9/2 shot staying on strongly down the straight to beat Run For Oscar by two and a half lengths.

“I’m delighted, he hasn’t run for over a year and it’s great to get him back,” said Harrington, who trains the Frankel gelding for Fiona Carmichael.

“I’ve had him ready to run for about the last six weeks but every time the ground came up too quick for him so I took him out.

“We could have a look at the Cesarewitch and maybe the English Cesarewitch as well.”

Stone success

In the concluding Hop House 13 Handicap over the same trip, Toll Stone gave Emmet Mullins and Annette Mee their first winner of the week when justifying good support.

The 11/4 shot came from the back, under Colin Keane, to lead turning for home and then held the final furlong challenge of Mr Percy for a neck success.

“I told Colin what I thought about the horse and left the tactics to him, I just gave him a bit of info on the horse,” said Mullins. He said with 50 yards to go he thought he was going to get swamped but the horse pulled out a bit more and went to the line well.

“He has a great attitude. It was a big step up in trip but he enjoyed every bit of it.”

No stopping Victor

In the Arthur Guinness Handicap earlier on the card, Victor’s Choice was given a warm welcome after her victory in the mile contest.

Robert Whearty produced the Adrian Murray-trained filly to lead just inside the final furlong and secure a length-and-a-half win at odds of 16/1.

“That’s brilliant. Everything worked out fantastic as she needs a nice bit of ease in the ground. We were praying for rain and it just came at the right time for her,” said Murray.

“There is a big crew that follows this filly, all the Fosters and McLoughlins are involved in her.”