Dermot Weld wasted no time in opening his account at this year's Galway Festival by taking the first race of the meeting, the Radissonhotelgalway.com & Galwaybayhotel.com Novice Hurdle, with Train Of Thought.

THE race for the jockeys’ championship isn’t half hotting up, with a three-way tie at the top following Killarney last night.

THE Richard Hannon trained Strong Suit will bring a massive reputation with him to the Curragh tomorrow for the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes.

CHARLIE SWAN, who won three Champion Hurdles on Istabraq for Aidan O’Brien, teamed up with the Ballydoyle trainer’s son, Joseph, to land the featured Guinness Handicap with Rajik at Galway last night.

TRAINER Eoin Griffin and jockey Michael Fogarty enjoyed their first ever success in the carlton.ie/galwaycity Handicap, formerly the GPT, when Admiral Barry beat Mount Helicon at Ballybrit last night.

Force Of Habit was the winner of the Meyrick.ie & ghotel.ie Novice Hurdle at Galway for the undisputed master of Ballybrit, Dermot Weld.

FOUR handicaps and three moderate maidens make this evening’s programme at Ballinrobe a real minefield for punters.

FRONT MAN is a hopeful nap choice to land the Carroll Cuisine Premium Ham Beginners Chase at Kilbeggan tonight, on a moderate programme which offers little cause for optimism.