Champion Hurdle-winning trainer Colm Murphy savoured a welcome change of luck when Catalaunian Fields landed the Thatch Bar Katies Kitchen Maiden Hurdle in Bellewstown last night.

An otherwise run-of-the-mill meeting produced a very special moment at Tramore Racecourse last night as jockey Andrew McNamara, one of the true gentlemen of the weigh-room, bowed out aboard a winner on his final ride in the saddle.

Baraweez landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF “Ahonoora” Handicap for the second successive year as British raiders dominated the feature event on the final day of the Galway Festival yesterday.

Final Figaro, who contests the bumper, looks the best bet on today’s card at Galway.

A return to the Galway Hurdle is on the agenda for The Game Changer, who got Davy Russell back amongst the winners with a pillar-to-post victory in the Wallstone Financial Novice Chase yesterday evening at Limerick.

Andrew Lynch was in sparkling form in Tramore last evening, completing a superb treble on Punch Bag, Master Appeal and Miss Peacetime.

The season’s leading rider, Mark Walsh, started the New Year in great style when completing a fine treble on Missyspet, Noble Emperor and Sword Fish in Fairyhouse yesterday.

Successful at Bellewstown on Thursday evening, the Noel Meade-trained Bose Ikard made it two wins in little more than 24 hours when landing the Walkers Snacks Handicap Hurdle in Down Royal last night, completing a double for Paul Townend.

The marketing people aren’t half out in force attempting to whip up support for the Champions’ Weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh next month.

Galway Plate hero Shane Shortall continued in top form when registering a double on Cassells Rock and Point Of Rescue in Bellewstown last night but also incurred a two-day whip ban.

Brian Ellison vowed to return to Galway after Baraweez and Pacific Heights gave him a one-three in the €100,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Ahonoora Handicap on the final day of the Festival.

Tony Martin’s Greatness arrived from the clouds to justify favouritism in the Tote Jackpot Guarantee Handicap Hurdle, initiating a double for Plate hero Shane Shortall at Galway yesterday.

Noel Meade, a trainer with a long history at Galway, saddled his first winner of the Plate when Road To Riches ran his rivals ragged at Ballybrit yesterday.

Galway Plate Day always brings a bit of showbiz to the West, with elder statesmen and football royalty mixing it with Joe Public in the parade ring.

Most Peculiar held off the late challenge of Draco to claim the €100,000 Tote Pick6 Guarantee Maiden Hurdle, the opening event on day three of the Galway Festival.

Ante-post favourite Thomas Edison heads owner JP McManus’ assault on the Guinness Galway Hurdle at the Ballybrit track on Thursday.

Cillian’s Return, bought out of Bill Farrell’s by J P McManus after taking a bumper at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day, made a winning start for his new connections when easily taking the Michael Maher Building And Construction Services Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary last night.

Aerlite Supreme gained a gutsy win over the flattering Usa in the featured P & D Lydon Plant Hire Rated Hurdle in Ballinrobe yesterday, completing a double for trainer Michael Hourigan and Adrian Heskin.

Under a determined ride by Robbie Power, the Liam Burke-trained My Murphy defied joint top-weight in the €50,000 Irish Stallion Farms Novice Handicap Chase Final in Navan yesterday.

The connections of Jezki - second in the Ryanair Hurdle - had better luck when the rapidly improving Galway Plate winner, John Kiely’s Carlingford Lough, also owned by McManus, landed the Grade 1 Topaz Novice Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

The horses have run very well in the past week with two winners, three placed and three fourth out of 12 runners. Of the rest, only two ran any way disappointingly.