Ballyholland powers to Ballybrit glory

ANDREW MCNAMARA rode his first ever Festival winner at Ballybrit when driving 16-1 shot Ballyholland to beat the gamble of the race, Knock On The Head, by three lengths in the William Hill Galway Plate yesterday.

“It’s great to get a big one to start off”, smiled the affable McNamara, whose brother, Robbie, landed the featured amateur handicap here on Monday night aboard Ghimaar.

“I got beaten a short head on a horse of Willie Austin’s here one day”, continued McNamara. “The camera-man told me I had won, so I headed for the winner’s enclosure.”