Sapphire a Galway jewel

Moonlight Sapphire repelled the challenge of the strong-travelling Gratified to take top honours in the ghotel.ie & hotelmeyrick.ie Novice Hurdle, the opening event of the 2009 Galway Festival.

John O’Shea’s filly was sent off at 6-1 having finished down the field on the Flat at Wexford on her latest outing, but she was right in the firing line turning for home.

It looked as though Dermot Weld, renowned for his fantastic record at the track, would take top honours when Denis O’Regan and Gratified loomed up approaching the final flight but Moonlight Sapphire dug deep for Sean McDermott to score by a length.

O'Shea said: "We were hoping first-time blinkers would sharpen her up and the soft ground was a help. In fact, I thought maybe she got to the front a little bit too soon.

"We’ve not got to the bottom of her stamina-wise yet. We may come back here on Saturday for a two-mile handicap on the Flat."