JOHN OXX recorded a fine double with his only two runners, Taralaya and Hasanka, at Galway last night.

Loyal Focus is set to make a quick reappearance in Thursday’s Guinness Galway Hurdle after striking on the opening day of the Festival meeting.

Matthew O’Connor delivered Loyal Focus with a perfectly-timed run to claim the GPT Galway (Q.R) Handicap, the feature event on the opening day of the Festival meeting.

Paul Carberry delivered sole British raider Hovering with a well-timed run to land the G.P.T. Sligo Novice Hurdle – the opening race of the 2007 Galway Festival.

DAVID MCCABE notched his first winner since returning to Ireland in February of last year when the Aidan O’Brien-trained Song Of Hiawatha proved a shock all-the-way winner of he concluding Irish Stallion Farms Race at Navan yesterday.

SIR FREDERICK took his total of successes to five, all travelling right-handed, when proving far too good for the opposition in the Powerstown Chase at Clonmel last evening.

LIAM ROCHE has worked in the claims department of the BUPA Fermoy operation for five years.

THE Robert Tyner-trained Kashnito D'Hommee landed a little touch in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.