Nans View lands the spoils in Guinness Premier Handicap as Galway crowd sets record
Nans View and Leigh Roche on their way to winning the Guinness Handicap (Premier Handicap) at Galway Racecourse. Pic: PA Wire.
Friday at the Galway Races has established itself as arguably the most popular day of the meeting, and a bumper crowd of 26,234 was not alone 4,000 greater than the same day in 2024, it also set the record for the week to date.
The most valuable race on the track was the Guinness Premier Handicap and Nans View landed the spoils for Co. Kildare trainer Jarlath Fahey and jockey Leigh Roche.
The drying ground may have been against the 12-1 chance but, under a fine ride by Roche, who sent her clear early in the straight, she was able to resist the late charge of Cheeky Wink.
“I thought halfway up the straight we were there, but the last 50 yards were terrifying,” admitted Fahey.
“She’s game and she hung on well, in fairness, and it was a brilliant ride by Leigh.”
Commenting on stable form, a relieved Fahey added: “A few things went wrong, and the yard hasn't been in form all year. They were running well but weren’t winning.
“You just have to sit and wait and hope it comes right. You don't change a whole lot; you're not doing anything wrong. It’s just that things aren't firing the way they were last year. We minded her for here and thankfully it worked out.”
Turnpike Trip turned back the clock in the Guinness Galway Blazers, returning to form with a game performance under Philip Byrnes. Trained by his father, Charles, and owned by Peter Acheson, it was just the 20-1 chance’s third outing in more than three years, and his last victory came in a Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket in 2021.
However, the 11-year-old, who was a maiden over fences prior to this race, showed he retains plenty of his old spark with a doughty display to deny Antrim Coast and Must Be Obeyed.
Said the winning trainer: "It's a brilliant feeling, especially that Philip rode it. Philip said he got in under the second-last and the last and lost momentum, but he really powered up the hill.”
Gavin Cromwell introduced a promising sort in the opener, the James’s Gate Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden, in the shape of Mighty Danu. The filly travelled nicely throughout but looked as though lack of experience might catch her out. However, Gary Carroll got a great tune out of her close home, and she got up to deny Bellamano by a neck.
“She was very green, but we liked her, and she went to the line well," said Cromwell. “She's a tall filly and there is plenty of improvement in her, and she's going to make into a nice three-year-old.”
The market for the Guinness Beginners’ Chase was fascinating and in victory Intense Approach, trained by John McConnell and ridden by Alex Harvey, foiled a huge gamble on Talk In The Park, who was backed from an overnight high of 40-1 to a starting price of 6-1. The winner was in front rank much of the way, passed three out, but back in front close home to win by three parts of a length, with Donnie Devito a close third.
Nicola Burns, a young rider who has been impressing this season, got off the mark for the week when getting Mother Mara up late to snatch victory from William F Browne in the Arthur Guinness Handicap. That was number 17 for the year for the young rider, who, in that time, has ridden winners for nine individual trainers.
Aidan O’Brien’s Eternal Spirit, one of the last progeny of Galileo, made a winning return to action in the Guinness Irish EBF Fillies’ Maiden, doing so by finding plenty to see off Generous Support by a little more than a length.
Jessica Harrington saddled her third winner of the meeting when Taipan, this time ridden by Keithen Kennedy, completed back-to-back wins in the Rockshore Refreshingly Irish Race.
In the finale, a wide draw all but put paid to the chances of Thursday night winner Glenroyal, but 22-1 chance Steps In The Sand, ridden by 7lb claimer Patrick McGettigan, took the opportunity to give trainer Ciaran Murphy his second winner of the week, after Castleheath dead-heated here earlier in the week.
