OVER 7,000 students created a very lively atmosphere at Galway’s Bank Holiday Monday fixture, where the weather was a lot more pleasant than had been the case the previous day and trainer Joseph O’Brien stole the show when recording a four-timer.

Dylan Browne McMonagle was on board three of the O’Brien winners, including Tribal Nation (6/4), who got the better of market rival Mississippi River by a length and a quarter in the Corrib Maiden.

Runner-up on his previous start at Gowran Park, the Wootton Bassett colt is owned by Teme Valley and Newsells Park Stud Ltd and Browne McMonagle said: “He is a big boy, who is still learning. He travelled well, quickened up really well and had a little look when I got there, but he is a gorgeous horse.

“He showed a good attitude on the (heavy) ground in the last furlong and I think he will only get better.”

The Letterkenny rider’s next winner was Source Code (8/1), who came from off the pace to take the www.swordsecurity.com Nursery.

Al Shira’aa Racing’s half-brother to Ambiente Friendly swept past Unique Journey in the final furlong to score by a length and a half.

First-time blinkers

The winning rider remarked: “I had to come out and around them, but he kept on well for pressure. He is very well-bred, but took time to come to hand and had the blinkers on for the first time today, which improved him a lot.”

The 92-rated Dollerina (13/8 favourite) outclassed her rivals in the Corrib Food Products Maiden to give Browne McMonagle his personal treble.

The daughter of Territories is owned by Brian Gleeson and John Brady and readily beat Storm Averted by four and a half lengths.

Browne McMonagle said: “She was fresh today and handled the ground well. She had been very competitive in group races as a two-year-old, so it was surprising it took her this long to win, but thankfully she has that under her belt now.”

O’Brien’s other winner was Annie’s Angel (7/1), who took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden under apprentice title contender, Wayne Hassett.

The grey daughter of Dark Angel edged ahead of the front-running Permission Tospeak in the final 100 yards to score by a neck.

A delighted owner/breeder Brendan Geraghty said: “To do that on only her second run, and on testing conditions, we are over the moon. We are blessed to have her and the mare is at home and in foal to Supremacy.

“I’m from just down the road in Shrule, Co Mayo and we’re living in Tipperary. This is our first winner in Galway, so it is brilliant.”

SYLKIE (6/1 favourite) remains unbeaten in three starts at Galway after landing the KONE Handicap under Rory Cleary.

A winner at the festival in August and also at the September meeting, the daughter of Starspangledbanner came from mid-division to challenge in the straight and had a length and three-quarters to spare over Vassula Ryden at the line.

Trainer Danny Howard said: “We’re a small stable, she is our stable star, so we mind her and bring her to the beach, which she loves. She also loves Galway and passing horses and picked up well today. She likes that soft ground and is just a dream.

“I was very confident today and, while I thought she was in trouble at one stage, she ate the hill. Today’s win is nearly better than her win at the festival, as everyone is here today.”

He added: “I took a chance claiming her and John Boland heads the Sylkie Syndicate, who are a great bunch of people. When we go out for a beer in Moneypoint, she is all everyone talks about.

“We only have a handful of horses and training is tougher these days than years ago, but I’m lucky to have her.”

Following up

Having made the breakthrough at Gowran Park seven days earlier, Willie McCreery’s Fairy Wings (11/1) followed up in the mile and a half handicap.

The daughter of Rajj came from mid-division to lead a furlong out under Nathan Crosse and went away to beat Jabbar by three and a half lengths.

McCreery, who owns the three-year-old himself, remarked: “She loved the heavy ground the last day and again today.

“She is a home-bred and I might now stick her into the Finale Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. It would be good to get blacktype for the mare, who is in foal to Raven’s Pass and all her foals have won races.”

A WINNER over a mile and a quarter at the Curragh the previous week, Nans View (11/2) had no problem staying the extra two furlongs of the Benetti Menswear Handicap, as she followed up under Ronan Whelan.

Whelan committed the Phoenix Of Spain filly coming out of the dip and she stayed on well to beat Cafe Con Leche by a length and a half.

Jarlath Fahey trains the winner for his daughter Sinead and said: “She has a blend of both pace and stamina and handles deep ground very well. She is very tough for a three-year-old and hurdling is now a major option.”

Rhythm King (8/1) came back to form to land the Barna Recycling Handicap for trainer Mark Fahey and jockey Gavin Ryan.

Carrying the colours of Clare Lennon, the four-year-old raced prominently throughout and, in the closing stages, held runner-up Racing Royalty by a length and three-quarters.

Afterwards, Fahey reported: “We thought he’d win early on this spring, as he is ground dependent and things came right today, with proper heavy ground.

“He has been a bit disappointing, but the drop down in grade helped and Gavin knows him well.”