A TOUGH evening for punters yielded a second odds-on defeat in three races as Jessica Harrington’s Pivotal Trigger (2/1) turned over Tiverton in the Claregalwayhotel.ie Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden over seven furlongs which kicked off a treble for the trainer and Shane Foley.

The Zhang Yuesheng-owned colt lined up with the benefit of two previous runs and the second of those a fine piece of form as it saw him finish a fine third to La Dolce Vita and Hans Andersen in a quality conditions race at Tipperary.

Shane Foley made the most of Pivotal Trigger’s experience by sending him straight to the front with the favourite ideally placed in second. The winner came under strong pressure much sooner than the favourite but on the point of the home bend it was clear Tiverton was struggling to reel him and hard as he tried the latter could not find a way past and he went down by a length and a half.

“It was a fantastic ride and the horse had the experience of two previous runs which was a great help. Shane said if he got an easy lead he was going to take it and this horse really does stay,” remarked Harrington.

“It’s fantastic to be back here and see all the people and to have the atmosphere back here is great. This horse might be one for the Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown towards the end of the season.”

Smooth Lullaby

The treble was completed by the Sarah Kelly-owned Irish Lullaby (13/2) who edged a thrilling finale to the 60-90 rated Eventus Handicap over a mile and a half. Now a winner of three of her last four starts and 11lb higher than when scoring at Killarney recently, Irish Lullaby produced an ultra-game effort in this three-year-old-only affair.

For much of the straight it seemed as though this daughter of Nathaniel would have to settle for a minor role, but she answered Foley’s every call and landed in front in the last stride or two to deny the favourite Common Practice by a head.

“She didn’t really like the track but she really put her head down when she met the rising ground. She is a good stayer who has come a long way and we might go looking for blacktype now,” stated the trainer.

Dairerin back

Dairerin (9/2) supplied the middle leg of the treble as continued his return to form in the 50-80 rated Claytonhotelgalway.ie Handicap over seven furlongs.

A well-backed winner of a Limerick handicap on his penultimate start and third at Naas last week, the Sniper Alley Syndicate-owned gelding continued his upward trajectory here.

He came with a strong challenge in the straight to pick off Bells On Her Toes inside the last furlong for a length-and-a-quarter success.

The winning connections include Ciaran O’Toole and former All Ireland hurling winner Mark Landers. Dairerin was due to turn out again here on Wednesday.

Eagle flies home with turn of speed

THE meeting didn’t get off to a great start for punters as Royal Eagle (18/1) struck for Gordon Elliott and Jordan Gainford in the Galmont.com & Galwaybayhotel.com Novice Hurdle.

Hms Seahorse was a warm order here at 1/2 but the market leader produced an indifferent round of jumping from the front and a steady pace meant that he had any number of challengers to contend with from before two out.

At this stage Royal Eagle was moving with some menace and she quickened up well from the last to hit the line three lengths ahead of the staying-on Razdan with Hms Seahorse only third.

A seven-race maiden under all codes coming into this race, Royal Eagle is owned by Paddy and David Monaghan and Adam Lord. The latter was involved in Salford City who was one of the first horses that helped Elliott establish himself as a trainer.

“She was getting plenty of weight and with that in mind I thought she could run well. They didn’t go a strong pace which suited her as she has a bit of flat speed,” reflected Elliott. “She will win back on the flat and I’d say we’ll mix it between the two over the next few months.

Darkened (12/1) won at the Galway Festival for the second time as he shrugged off joint top weight in the 80-109 rated Easyfix Handicap Hurdle over two miles.

The burden of 12 stone would normally make it a tough ask in a 20 runners handicap but such was the demand for places in this race that there was just a 5lb spread in the weights.

Inseparable

In another steadily run affair, the Denis Hogan-trained and ridden winner battled with Listentillitellyea from two out. This pair were almost inseparable for the duration of the straight and in the bobbing finish it was Darkened who got the verdict by a nose despite Hogan losing his whip on the run in.

“He won over hurdles at Kilbeggan a few runs ago and has since run a couple of nice races on the flat. I put him in the sales next week but after this I’d say we might hold on to him,” reported Hogan who trains the winner for Justin Carthy.

THE opening day concluded with a beloved Galway winner for owner Annette Mee as This Songisforyou made a winning debut in the Monami Construction Flat Race.

The Emmet Mullins-trained American-bred four-year-old, who is out of a half-sister to Del Mar Oaks winner No Matter What and the high-class E Dubai, raced on the pace for Derek O’Connor.

The 11/4 chance faced a stern challenge as The Twelve Pins swept up on the outer turning for home and a great tussle between the pair ensured.

This Songisforyou battled hard though and got the verdict by a neck, with the front pair finishing eight lengths clear of the remainder.

“It’s been a long road with him. He didn’t make the breeze-up sales due to a niggly problem and he was in training last year too, but we decided to keep him for a bumper,” stated the trainer.

“Crowns Major had been to the breeze-ups and we were able to go back to the flat with him which is an avenue for this horse. He is a talented horse with plenty of gears.”

Attendance

2021: 15,179

2019: 20,397

Tote

2022: €678,649

2021: €180,280