A TILT at the Galway Festival is on the agenda for handicap revelation Chally Chute after he proved his stamina with a clear-cut win in the William Hill Extra Place Races Daily Handicap over two miles and a furlong for Mick Halford and Tracey Collins.

Owner Julie White’s likeable five-year-old has now won four of his last five starts and looks better than ever on this evidence, winning off a mark of 90 and putting a length and a half between himself and runner-up Black Hawk Eagle.

Ronan Whelan, who was continuing a fine run of form, appeared to score with something in hand on the 5/1 shot, and Chally Chute will now have the option of either the Connacht Hotel Q.R. Handicap on day one of the Galway Festival or the Guinness Premier Handicap on day five.

Halford said: “The whole objective here was to find out if he’d stay. While it was steadily run and a bit messy, you’d have to think he did stay. He has a big heart and it was a good performance under top-weight.

“I’ll talk to the owners about which race but he’ll probably go to Galway now. I was keen to get a run into him before running there.

“He had a nice blow, but you’d expect that after carrying top-weight over a distance like that. I do think he will come on for the run, though. Something like the Irish Cesarewitch might suit later in the season.”

Satin shows stamina

Shane Foley and Jessica Harrington teamed up to land the feature €23,500 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap thanks to a fine staying performance from Satin in the mile-and-three-furlong event.

Sarah Kelly’s three-year-old by Australia shaped as though she could easily stay further if asked, keeping on to register a two-and-a-half-length victory at 9/2.

Foley said: “She got back a bit [when a close fourth] in the Ulster Oaks at Down Royal last time but jumped smartly today. She got into a nice rhythm and did it well - she’s back on track.

“She was very impressive in winning a maiden at Listowel in June and things didn’t go right for her the last couple of runs. I think she’ll stay further, she might even go a mile and six furlongs.”

IT was a landmark evening for the new training partnership of John and Tommy Kiely as the pair pulled off their first winner with a joint-licence thanks to the beautifully bred Liberated Light ladning the William Hill Epic Value Q.R. Maiden.

The uncle-and-nephew team from Dungarvan, Co Waterford saddled their first runners together in May and eked out a first win here from the Claire Gleeson-owned and John Gleeson-ridden four-year-old at odds of 11/2.

He was previously trained in Britain and hadn’t entirely built on his early promise, but this performance suggested he may progress with time, being a brother to the stable’s Champion Bumper hero A Dream To Share.

Tommy Kiely said: “It’s great to get the monkey off the back. We had a few who hit the crossbar and we’re glad to get it out of the way. When the National Hunt season ended earlier this year, we went into this partnership.

“John gave this horse a brilliant ride - he’s riding out of his skin. We were hoping to run well coming here, although it looked a competitive race. Hopefully he can improve again.”

Gloria’s quality debut

Smart sire Kodi Bear isn’t renowned for first-time-out winners but several of his offspring to win on debut have proven pattern-class operators and Vain Gloria has the chance to become another for Paddy Twomey.

The €75,000 yearling purchase, owned by Stanley Watson and Trevor Stewart, proved a cut above her rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies & Mares Maiden under Billy Lee.

Sent off the 3/1 favourite, she was always handy and kicked two and three quarters of a length ahead of 75-rated runner-up Golden Spangle.

Twomey said: “You never know when a horse is having their first start but I was hoping she’d run a nice race. She’s a nicely bred filly and her mother is a sister to a couple of very good horses. We’ll look for a winners’ race now.

“She has been with us since she was a yearling. She has never missed a day and took all the training last year. It’s great to have a winner for Stanley, who has a summer house in Glengarrif, and Trevor.”

LEADING apprentice Joey Sheridan registered the 100th win of his career under rules when Church Mountain warmed up for a return to Ballybrit in the best way possible by winning the William Hill Lengthen Your Odds Handicap over a mile for owner Joe Kelly.

The strong-staying miler has a smart record at Galway and came home smartly here to collect on just his second start since joining Michael O’Callaghan at odds of 8/1.

“When we moved to a new yard it was five minutes from Joe’s house, and he came to us last winter to ask if we’d train the horse,” said the winning trainer.

“We’ve had him since the spring and he previously won races for Denis Hogan. He’s a fine, big horse but is quirky and has taken a lot to get settled. Joey gave him a lovely ride and, depending on what the handicapper does, he might win another one.”

Final Check ticks the boxes

John O’Donoghue made it back-to-back wins on the first two nights of the Killarney July Festival when Final Check tapped into her quality pedigree to land the William Hill Epic Boost Handicap over a mile.

Andrew Slattery got a lovely seam on the inner close home aboard the Anthony Rogers-owned three-year-old, and the Expert Eye filly did just enough to beat So Messi by a head at 15/2. O’Donoghue said: “She has a tremendous pedigree and the brief from early was to win a race with her. I’m delighted to be training for the Rogers family; she’s the first one they sent us and it’s a winner so long may that continue.”

Coolree collects

An enterprising piece of placing from the Jennifer Lynch team reaped dividends in the William Hill Ireland Maiden for four-year-olds and older as Coolree defied a rating of 63 to win on his ninth start. Leigh Roche was positive on the Lisglassick Partnership-owned performer, who was sent off an 8/1 chance, and his mount responded well when tackled in the closing stages.

Warm favourite Most Wanted wasn’t helped by getting hit with the winning jockey’s whip close home but whether the runner-up would have turned the tables without that interference is questionable.

Assistant trainer Barry Cash said: “He had been disappointing and was very hot at the start - we couldn’t travel him any further than the Curragh. He has manned up and settled down a good bit. He’s owned by a couple of people from the yard who joined up together and they’ll be delighted.”