Galway double for Diego

Diego Garcia added his name to Galway folklore with his second win of the week after being driven home by Ruby Walsh to land the feature race on the sixth day of the festival, the Freshways Handicap Hurdle.

Successful on the Flat on Tuesday evening, Willie Mullins produced the six-year-old fresh and well, although he needed all of Walsh’s urgings from the saddle to land odds of 100-30.

Walsh had to fight his way through the smallest of gaps after the last flight when Dermot Weld’s Tasman had taken up the running on the home turn.

Diego Garcia was still travelling strongly as Niall Madden on Yarra Maguire came round to challenge on the outside and attempted to keep Walsh trapped in behind the leader.

But a gap appeared and despite making contact with Madden’s mount, he quickened up on seeing daylight and came away for a three-quarters of a length victory from Tasman, with Yarra Maguire a length and three quarters further back in third.

“He had to fight his corner and he obviously loves this track,” said Mullins.

“He likes summer ground and the sun on his back. He came out of Tuesday very well.

“We’ll probably try and target a race back here in September and he could come back here next year as a novice chaser.”

Mullins recorded a 23-1 double on the day when Drumderry (9-2) took the closing Kerrymaid Festival INH Flat Race under Katie Walsh.

The old adage of backing the top weight in a nursery rang true for punters when Hammers Boy came late to foil Howya Now Kid in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund event.

The 3-1 favourite looked to have a lot to do as Johnny Murtagh sent Howya Now Kid (11-2) clear turning into the straight but Billy Lee conjured a great run out of Tommy Stack’s charge and won by half a length.

The winner had run a fine race in defeat at Leopardstown last weekend behind Jim Bolger’s smart Teofilo, and had also run in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He is owned by a group of West Ham players including Teddy Sheringham and Matthew Etherington, but they are currently on a pre-season tour in Greece and none were present.

Fozzy Stack, the trainer’s son said: “He’ll probably go to Tralee now for another nursery. He likes fast ground. He has won on yielding but he wouldn’t want it any softer than that.

“He might suit a little bit of cut but not much.”

Pat Flynn and Danny Grant landed their third success of the week thanks to Always The Groom, who won the Cheestrings Handicap in impressive fashion.

The 11-2 shot travelled well throughout for 3lb claimer Grant, taking up the running fully a furlong out and careering away for a two-length victory.

Baileysunice (20-1) chased home the winner, with Amarjit and Ashlawn filling the places.

Gerannjo made nearly all to land the opening Jockeys Association Maiden Hurdle under 7lb claimer Mark Fahy at the rewarding odds of 16-1 for Val O’Brien.

There was good money for the Dessie Hughes-trained Irish Stream (4-1) but he could never quite get on terms and trailed in three lengths behind the winner.

Half Barrell (16-1) made it a quickfire 288-1 double for O’Brien by winning the Low Low Galway Blazers Handicap Chase.

Niall Madden was in the saddle this time and despite drifting violently left on the run-in, the 14-year-old held off Jessica Harrington’s Lifes A Flyer (12-1) by two lengths.

Dermot Weld’s Blue Coral (4-7) made light work of the opposition in the Dawn Juice European Breeders Fund Maiden to come home three and a half lengths clear of Aidan O’Brien’s Abide With Me.

“We’ve won the three two-year-old maidens here this week and the last time we did that was in 1996,” said Weld.

“I’ve a very nice team of juveniles this year and I hope they continue to improve as the year goes on.

“This horse has progressed well from his debut and the Goffs Million is the obvious target for him.”