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.

WE have to rely on the tried and trusted system of winner-finding at Galway and put our faith in Dermot Weld at the first stage of the Ballybrit extravaganza this evening.

THOUGHTS drifted back to the great Imperial Call and his tremendous Cheltenham Gold Cup victory in 1996 after Lisselan Eagle won the Clarina Maiden at Limerick last evening.