Loyal has hurdle date
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.
Dermot Weld’s charge felt the benefit of a shrewd ride from Matthew O’Connor when claiming the valuable GPT Galway (Q.R) Handicap at odds of 12-1.
Constantine dominated the early stages as he was quickly away and had soon built up a wide-margin lead with Port Jeff and Loyal Focus going in pursuit.
As Constantine began to tire, Port Jeff and the winner started to reel in the long-time leader with O’Connor kicking for home around three furlongs out.
Loyal Focus soon pulled clear and he kept up the gallop right to the line to see off favourite Essex by nine lengths.
“The tactics worked to perfection,” said Weld. “The original plan was to make it but I told Matt never to be worse than third and he had the race won a long way out.
“That’s the third ride Matt has had for me and he is a boy with a future. He will now go for the Galway Hurdle on Thursday. He’s a staying horse with a light weight and that’s what you need on soft ground.”
Betdirect make Loyal Focus a 10-1 shot from 22s for Thursday’s hurdle highlight.
“He only has 9st 12lb for the feature event later in the week and this has the makings of another carefully laid out plan by Dermot Weld, who is of course the king of Galway,” said spokesman Charlie McCann.
Weld is also planning to run Mutakarrim in the big race, he added: “More than likely Robbie Power will ride one of them but I haven’t finalised jockey plans yet.”
Paul Carberry delivered sole British raider Hovering to land the opening GPT Sligo Novice Hurdle
Mick Quinlan’s 9-1 chance, who was making her debut over timber, took up a prominent position early and tracked long-time leader and eventual runner-up Mrs Diniver into the straight.
While that Liam Roche-trained filly set down to scrap out the result with 4-5 favourite Lisselan Eagle and Galilean, Carberry bided his time and waited until after the last before making his challenge.
Once he asked his mount to go about her business, Hovering responded instantly and surged past to win by an authoritative two and a half lengths.
The British raiders scored a second success when Sadler’s Kingdom (9-2 joint favourite) struck for Richard Fahey in the GPT Van & Truck Rentals Handicap.
Lucifer Sam (3-1) just got up to pip Domestic Fund by a head in a thrilling finish to the GPT Access Equipment (C & G) EBF Maiden.
Pat Smullen set out to make all aboard 11-8 favourite Domestic Fund but he had no answer as Kieren Fallon delivered the Aidan O’Brien-trained Lucifer Sam with a late challenge.
Rainbow Dash was a brave winner of the GPT Dublin Handicap Hurdle for jockey Denis O’Regan and trainer Tom McCourt.
O’Regan was always prominent aboard the 14-1 shot, cutting out much of the early running before kicking on again turning into the straight.
Although Tai Lass came with a powerful challenge after the last, the 10-1 runner-up could not catch Rainbow Dash who knuckled down to grind out a half-length victory.
