Willie Mullins skilled Sirius to win the Connacht Resort (Q.R.) Handicap, the premier occasion of day one of many 2024 Galway Races.
The champion Nationwide Hunt conditioner coaching the winner of a serious race at an Irish racing competition was no shock, however what was a shock was the 50/1 value of the winner within the arms of English novice rider David Dunsdon.
Proper on the backside of the handicap, carrying 10-13, Dunsdon got here late and broad on the eventual winner within the colors of Coldunell Restricted to take victory within the opening day characteristic by three and a half lengths.
One other big-priced runner, Baltic Chicken (25/1), ridden by County Cork jockey Johnny Barry for proprietor/coach Invoice Durkan. Spasiba (8/1), one other Closutton runner, this one the mount of Jody Townend was third one and a half lengths behind the runner-up.
Eleven-year-old Lord Erskine was fourth for coach Harry Rogers at 33/1 one other one and three-quarters of a size again in fourth place.
Lot Of Pleasure (4/1f), one other Willie Mullins-trained runner, ridden by his son, Patrick, finally completed in ninth place.
Danny Mullins and Richard O’Brien declare 2024 Competition opener
The well-supported Feud (16/5) was a simple winner of the opening The Galmont Resort and The Galway Bay Resort Novice Hurdle.
Ridden by Danny Mullins for Richard O’Brien, the winner was properly positioned all through the two miles 130 yards contest, earlier than placing three and a half lengths between himself and the runner-up Mordor (15/2), the mount of Sam Ewing for the Gordon Elliott secure. Pigeon Home (4/1), who was near the entrance of the sphere all through crossed the ending line in third place, an additional six and a half lengths behind.
The race favorite, the French-bred Willie Mullins-trained Sysko (9/4f) was by no means a menace, and completed in fourth place on his Irish debut.
County Meath-trained double on day one
Father and son Matthew and Kevin Smith teamed as much as simply win the Easyfix Handicap Hurdle over 2 miles 130 yards.
The Co Meath outfit claimed the win Son Of Hypnos (16/1) who was a facile 10-length winner over Clonburg Bridge (16/1), with Vischio (10/1) and Harley Avenue (17/2) taking third and fourth locations respectively.
Smith’s fellow Co Meath-based conditioner Jack Davison additionally returned to the winner’s enclosure, with Clever Strategy (7/1), in The Clayton Resort Galway Handicap.
Within the arms of five-pound claimer James Ryan, the chestnut gelded son of Mehmas got here on the skin of the sphere within the dying phases of the 7-furlong 50-80 Handicap, to take the win by one and a half lengths, with a short-head separating the runner-up and third, Cuban Confusion (10/1) and Louiescall (10/1). The 100/30 race favorite, Avatar Jet, crossed the road again in twelfth place.
Rock Of Cashel loses maiden tag
Rock Of Cashel (3/1), eighth on debut at The Curragh final month, broke rapidly at Ballybrit immediately, and was on the head of the sphere throughout the seven furlongs race.
When Wayne Lordan requested the son of Wootton Bassett to take his race, the two-year-old colt powered up the Galway hill and take a two and 1 / 4 size win from one other 3/1 shot Admiral Churchill below Billy Lee for the Paddy Twomey secure, with Joseph O’Brien’s Viking Invasion (7/1) subsequent residence, an additional size behind.
The Dermot Weld-handled favorite Reality Be Advised (13/8) completed fourth, one other size and a half again.
Tony Mullins and Rory Cleary teamed up for achievement in The Grá Sweets Handicap over 1 mile 4 furlongs and 84 yards at 7.45pm.