Tudor City the sole favourite to oblige

Surprisingly, the only winning favourite on day five of the Galway Festival came in the ultra-competitive Arthur Guinness Handicap, but it was no shock to punters who backed the Tony Martin-trained Tudor City down from a high of 7-1, to a starting price of 5-2. There were a couple of anxious seconds before he prevailed in the cool hands of Fran Berry.

There was little luck for punters in the opening race, as Riviera Sun was heavily backed in the opening handicap hurdle but was one of the first in trouble, while Morning gamble Rupert Lamb raced prominently but was unable to raise his game in the closing stages. Victory went to 14-1 chance Vive La France, who quickened away from the last to win readily.

Soft ground was a concern for odds-on favourite Palmetto Dunes in the maiden, and the Dermot Weld-trained hot-pot ran a fine race but may have come unstuck in the mud as he was touched off by 8-1 chance Whiskey Sour.