Tom Mullins and his wife Helen won the opening race on the Friday evening of the Galway festival for the 3rd year in a row, with Lucky Icon (20/1) in the Guinness Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle.

Top Othe Ra did it for the Doninga couple in 2017 and 2018. It was a 30,000 Euro event then but it’s now an 80,000 Euro consolation contest for Thursday’s big Guinness Galway Hurdle now. Bercasa went off favourite for the winning owner/trainer under their son David, but she was well held when getting the last wrong and unseating.

Lucky Icon meanwhile, for Tom’s nephew Danny, was never far away before hitting the lead at the third, going on to defeat Lever Du Soleil by three and a half lengths.

"He won well in Killarney and is a horse who is growing up and getting stronger all the time. Killarney was a confidence boost for him and maybe we found out the way to ride him as well," said Tom Mullins.

"He wasn't straightforward and the first win he had over hurdles at Ballinrobe he put up a Champion Hurdle performance that day, I thought! I was looking forward to more but it didn't come. Obviously he needs to be ridden that way, or on the outside, as he could be claustrophobic. He has also got a lot stronger in the last couple of months.

"Danny got the fractions right and rode him very well.

"I'd run him again on the flat when I see an ideal race and an ideal jockey for him."

Denis Hogan suffered some soft tissue damage after a fall from Kerosin here.

The Stewards fined Emmet Mullins, trainer, €65 for St Stephens Green entering the parade ring with sheepskin cheek pieces, which hadn't been declared.

The Stewards received a report from Mr. L. Walsh , Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Clerk of the Scales, regarding the fact that D.J. McInerney , rider of Orgilgo Bay , weighed in at 1.1 lbs overweight. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned, who stated that he took some fluid after weighing-out which may have caused his overweight on weighing in. Having considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that D.J. McInerney was in breach of Rule 231(iii) and having taken his record into account suspended him for 2 race days.

(TW & EM)