Magnificent dual-purpose performer Quick Jack earned Tony Martin back to back success in the Guinness Galway Hurdle at Ballybrit.
Since winning on the level at last year's Festival at Ballybrit, the six-year-old has finished third in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket, third in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and second to subsequent Gold Cup hero Trip To Paris in the Chester Cup. Given his clear improvement on the Flat, he appeared nicely weighted on his return to hurdling and was prominent in the market at 9-2.
His supporters had few worries for most of the prestigious contest, with Quick Jack travelling powerfully in the hands of an ultra-confident Denis O'Regan. He moved smoothly towards the lead rounding the home turn and although he got in close to the second flight from the finish, he was soon back on the bridle and took up the running from Shark Hanlon's stable star Hidden Cyclone.
Quick Jack looked set for comprehensive victory early in the straight, but his stable companion and last year's winner Thomas Edison came with a strong challenge, only to suffer a heavy fall at the final obstacle. His exit left O'Regan's mount clear and the jockey punched the air as he passed the post two and a quarter lengths to the good.
Max Dynamite fared best of the Willie Mullins brigade in second, with Ted Veale, another Martin-trained runner, third. Hidden Cyclone was fourth.
Winning owner John Breslin, who also owns Ted Veale, said: "What a ride. He gave him the best ride I've seen in the Galway Hurdle.
"He kept on the rail and came into the bend full of horse. Tony has done a fantastic job with him. He's a class horse. We've been unlucky in big handicaps like the Cesarewitch and the Chester Cup and the County Hurdle, but everything went right today.
"Denis gave him a peach and what can I say? It's the biggest day of my life. "I'm very emotional. I never dreamed I'd win a Galway Hurdle."
Martin said: "It's wonderful. It was some feeling going to the last when I saw the two of them. Unfortunately poor Thomas Edison hit the deck, but it was great.
"Denis is one of the top five jockeys and they don't make mistakes. From a long way out you were just keeping fingers crossed nothing would go wrong as you could see he had a big shout.
He (Quick Jack) had been very consistent all year and ran very well at Cheltenham when the ground was a bit soft. I don't race him very often as he's had issues and while he's entered at Sligo next week, he definitely won't be going there.
"We'll sit on the fence for a while, but the Greatwood Hurdle or the Cesarewitch are options."
He went on: "I feel sorry for Thomas Edison as he has had a lot of bad luck. No one was to blame only himself for today's fall but the main thing is he is okay. He was coming to challenge, the one in front (Quick Jack) had a bit in hand, but you never know."
O'Regan said: "I was delighted with him the whole way. He travelled and they went quick but then they steadied it again. I didn't want to get there as soon as I did but I had to go as the gap came when Hidden Cyclone came off and I had to go there.
"When I went upsides at the second-last, it was the only one he missed, because it was the first time he was in front thorough the race but I held him together to the last, and he jumped that well and away we went up the hill.
"Tony had him in fantastic form. I only got the ride last week. Tony rang and asked if I was coming over and I said I was and he said 'I'll have one for you in the Galway Hurdle, if you have your weight right, 10st 4lb, you can ride him'. So I did and thankfully it paid off.
"I've always wanted to win that race as it's iconic and I have now. I'm happy, especially with the prize-money being so good!"
Barry Geraghty, rider of the JP McManus-owned Thomas Edison, said: "I thought I was still in with a good shout. The horse was meeting it on a very long stride and it wasn't a day for leaving him to go in and take his time to pop it. So I gave him a kick into it but, unfortunately, it didn't work out."
Shantou Flyer made it third time lucky over fences in the opening Beginners Chase at Galway.
Colin Bowe’s charge had an encouraging start to his career over fences when runner-up at Limerick in May, but let down favourite backers when pulling up at Down Royal next time.
Having bounced back with a decent effort to finish third over hurdles at Tipperary a week and a half ago, he was an 11-4 chance for the opener on day four of the Festival and was always moving well in the hands of Davy Russell.
Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh, who won the opening race on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, teamed up once more with 2-1 favourite As De Ferbet, but although he put up a bold effort from the front, he could not shake off Shantou Flyer, who won the argument by two and a quarter lengths.
The Galway Plate-winning combination of Henry de Bromhead and Jonathan Burke were on the mark again as Sizing Platinum struck gold in the 2m 2f Novice Chase.
De Bromhead and Burke enjoyed Plate glory with Shanahan’s Turn on Wednesday and Sizing Platinum was a 3-1 shot for his Ballybrit assignment in the same colours of Alan and Ann Potts.
Ridden prominently from the outset, Sizing Platinum was strongly pressed by 9-1 favourite Rock The World running down the hill, but De Bromhead’s charge would not be denied, galloping on for a three-and-three-quarter-length verdict.
Princess Aloof was a comprehensive winner of the Hop House 13 Handicap. Jessica Harrington's filly was a 6-1 shot to claim her third victory of the campaign and her first since back-to-back successes at Leopardstown in April.
Shane Foley rode a patient race, settling his mount in the midfield before angling wider to challenge before the home turn. Once in the clear, Princess Aloof made up the ground fairly rapidly and extended clear in the straight.
Shalamzar just got up to deny Champagne Or Water to the runner-up spot, beaten two lengths by the Harrington runner.
There was a pulsating climax to the Corrib Fillies' Stakes, with the Mullins-trained Laviniad getting up in the shadows of the post under Declan McDonogh.
Tested was the 2-1 favourite for the Listed contest, bidding to give Dermot Weld his fourth winner of the week, and she looked set to oblige when striding on from the home turn in the hands of Pat Smullen.
However, Laviniad (5-1) managed to find a gap on the rail after briefly looking short of room and quickened up smartly to get up and nail the market leader by a neck, making it four for the week for Mullins.
Harrington completed a double on the afternoon as Sandymount Duke registered his fourth victory on the spin in the Guinness Novice Hurdle.
The 4-1 shot looked to have plenty on his plate conceding weight all round, but added to his triumphs at Punchestown, Kilbeggan and Tipperary with a battling display under Robbie Power. Credo Star was a length and three-quarters away in second, with the Mullins-trained odds-on favourite Gangster disappointing. The winner carries the colours of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.
GALWAY RESULTS
1.50
1 Shantou Flyer 11-4
2 As De Ferbet 2-1 fav
3 Waaheb 7-1
2.20
1 Sizing Platinum 3-1
2 Rock The World 9-10 fav
3 Bishopslough 12-1
3.0
1st Princess Aloof 6-1
2nd Shalamzar 4-1 jt fav
3rd Champagne Or Water 11-2
3.30
1st Laviniad 5-1
2nd Tested 2-1 Fav
3rd Corail 14-1
4.05
1st Sandymount Duke 4-1
2nd Credo Star 12-1
3rd Grecian Tiger 10-1
Galway Hurdle
1st Quick Jack 9-2
2nd Max Dynamite
3rd Ted Veale 16-1
4th Hidden Cyclone 6-1
5th Marchese Marconi 16-1
5.25
1st Bog Warrior 5-2
2nd Swamp Fox 7-1
3rd Meadow Cross 6-1
4th Park Ranger 14-1
6.0
1st Prince Daubrelle 7-4
2nd Lieutenant 6-4 fav
3rd Diva Dawn 20-1
4th Some Tank 9-2
