GALWAY’S week-long summer festival got underway on Monday evening where 16/1 shot Edeymi landed the featured Connacht Hotel (QR) handicap for leading owner Michael O’Leary and County Meath trainer Tony Martin.
Ridden by Steven Clements from Banbridge in County Down, Edeymi was settled in mid-division in this €70,000 two-mile contest as Ted Walsh’s Rossvoss cut out the running under his daughter Katie.

Luck in running is vital in this ultra-competitive handicap and Clements, who spent some time in England as a conditional rider before re-joining the amateur ranks, found the gap at precisely the right time and he edged to the front at the furlong pole.

The finish at Galway is quite stiff but Clements was always in command after that. He kept his mount up to his task in the closing stages to deny the fast-finish Domination from the Charles Byrnes yard by a head. 

The winner’s stable companion Redera came home very well a further length away under Cork rider Maxine O’Sullivan for third with another lady rider, Kate Harrington, filling fourth with Gimli’s Rock.

Local hero Derek O’Connor was aboard Jim Culloty’s Cry For The Moon, but he never looked like winning despite staying on well to eventually finish sixth.

The victory of Edeymi was a real triumph for Martin, who is one of the wiliest trainers in the country. Nicknamed Harvey since his days as a leading amateur rider, Martin has landed a host of big races since turning his hand to training and, not surprisingly, he was overjoyed with his last victory.

“I’m thrilled with the way my two horses have run and both jockeys gave them super rides. I felt that with a bit of luck both would feature but to have one out in front is superb,” said Martin.

“Edeymi is a great little horse and I thought he was one of my best chances of a winner at Cheltenham in March where he was brought down. He then fell when coming to win his novice chase at Tramore so he deserved his day in the sun. He didn’t have a hard race tonight and there is every chance you will see him back here at Ballybrit again later in the week,” added the Summerhill trainer.

Things were to get even better for Martin an hour later when he completed a double, as his Newtown Anner Stud Farm-owned Dark Crusader (12/1) got up close to home to land the Galway Oyster Hotel Handicap under a well-timed ride from Fran Berry.

John Joe Walsh’s Lady Giselle attempted to make all in this 12-furlong contest and Gary Carroll’s mount was still in command at the furlong pole. Berry was winding up his mount for a major effort however, with the successful daughter of Cape Cross forging to the head of affairs well inside the final furlong to score by two and three-quarter lengths.

Slapped with a 19lb hike in the ratings for winning on her previous start at Killarney, Dark Crusader is obviously an improving filly who can add to her tally during the remainder of the season. 

Martin reported, “She’s a lovely type and did it well. I thought the handicapper had her in his grasp with that penalty for winning last time but he was right. She is a big, backward filly who is improving all the time and will improve again from today.”

Weld strikes early at Ballybrit

PUNTERS heading to Galway are always mindful of the outstanding record Dermot Weld enjoys at the meeting.

His legion of followers didn’t have to wait too long to greet a winner as the master of Rosewell House took the opening galwaybayhotel.com novice hurdle with warm favourite Diplomat.

Ruby Walsh did the steering aboard this 9/10 shot who, despite running very freely over the first half of the race, had enough in the tank to hold the determined challenge of UK raider Sky Khan by a length
Weld, who trains the winner for Dublin owner Dr Ronan Lambe, was pleased with the winner’s display, saying, “He did it nicely in the end. He was bumped into down at the start by another horse and he got a bit buzzed up after that. As a result, he didn’t settle but Ruby is the right man to have on board in those situations and he gave him a superb ride.”

Weld had a host of fancied runners during the evening and he managed to bag a second as his 11/8 joint-favourite Mustajeeb carried Pat Smullen to victory in the seven-furlong claregalwayhotel.ie EBF maiden.

This Hamdan Al Maktoum colt was soon in front and, try as main market rival Friendship did, Aidan O’Brien’s runner could not peg back the willing leader who stayed on powerfully up the final hill to beat Joseph O’Brien’s mount by two and a half lengths.

“He’s a nice horse. The original plan was to sit second as we thought Friendship would make it but, obviously, that changed rapidly. He settled well in front and the result was never really in doubt,” stated Weld.

County Tyrone trainer Andy Oliver made his long trek west worthwhile when sending out 11/2 shot, Target Acquired, to land the claytonhotelgalway.ie handicap.

Chris Hayes partnered this Majestic Missile colt who, having been drawn on the inside, made full use of his plum position to beat runner-up Hail Shower by a neck.

Favourite backers also got it spot-on in the Sean ‘The Budgie’ Burgess Memorial handicap hurdle where Aladdins Cave justified 9/2 favouritism for Wexford trainer Colm Murphy and top jockey Barry Geraghty.

The concluding bumper saw champion trainer Willie Mullins and his son Patrick combine to good effect, as the duo teamed-up to claim this two-mile event with 7/2 shot Wicklow Brave.

Racing mourns the passing of Colm Murray

THE world of racing was plunged into mourning on Tuesday morning when the news emerged that RTÉ sports personality Colm Murray had passed away.

The 61-year-old, who joined the national broadcaster as a continuity announcer back in 1978, was knowledgeable across a wide range of sports, but his first love was racing and his voice will forever be associated with the Cheltenham, Punchestown, Fairyhouse and Galway Festivals, where his witty tones were an integral part of the enjoyment for so many fans.

Tributes were paid to the Westmeath native, who lost a bravely-fought battle with Motor Neurone Disease, by a wide range of people, including Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who said, “Colm was the voice of Irish racing for many years and he lit up the coverage of many a racing meet with his passion and enthusiasm for the sport.  I had the pleasure of being in Colm’s company recently and could see he was a proud Westmeath man who brought out the best in those around him with his affability and gift for storytelling. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Anne, and daughters, Patricia and Kate and sister, Mary.  He is also a huge loss to all in RTÉ and my thoughts are with all who had the pleasure of knowing Colm during his lifetime.”

Colm was also very popular with all his pressroom colleagues and Seamus Dooley, Irish Secretary of the National Union of Journalists, noted, “Colm Murray was a remarkable figure in Irish journalism.  In a profession characterised by professional rivalry and jealousy, Colm had no enemies. He was admired for his wit, his humour and his generosity of spirit.

“His stoical acceptance of his illness has served as a powerful inspiration and it is a cruel irony that someone who loved life with such passion should have been struck with such a debilitating illness.

“He had a wide and eclectic circle of friends. Colm loved horse racing and was most at home on the race track but his interests extended beyond sport to current affairs, music and culture. 

“Few could match his encyclopedic knowledge of rural Ireland and he had a special affection for the Irish Midlands, regularly giving of his time and talents to support community initiatives, especially in Westmeath and in Offaly, where he began his teaching career.

“Colm was a committed member of the Dublin Broadcasting Branch of the NUJ and over the years his wise counsel was available to union officers,” he added.