The second split of the Galway Races Summer Festival 2024 Handicap produced a boilover as Game Nation scored at 50/1 under Seamie Heffernan.

Runner-up at Navan in July, the Le Havre gelding came from mid-division to lead on the approach to the straight and kept on willingly to hold Star Official by two lengths.

Heffernan was completing a double after winning the opener on Everlasting

Game Nation is trained by Eric McNamara for the Normal Innocent Men Syndicate and the trainer's son Conor remarked: "I thought he might do that the last day because his run two starts before at Navan was very good but he disappointed us and nothing came to light.

"It was a fact-finding mission today and Seamie said the best of the ground was on the inner - I don't know how he has managed to get across from (stall) 17 but he has. He gave him a fantastic ride.

"He has always promised more than what he has shown but thank God he did that. We might go hurdling or wait until next season."

Quotes from Tom Weekes