There was a thrilling finish to the Claytonhotelgalway.ie 3-y-o Handicap with Black Cat Bobby (14/1) coming out on top under a fine ride by Gavin Ryan.

Ryan, who shone at last year’s festival when riding five winners as a 5lb claimer, did very well to get his mount into second place coming down the hill having come from stall sixteen.

Credit is due to the Dot Love-owned gelding as well as, having used up a good bit of energy to get a prominent position, he sustained his effort all the way to the line.

Getting to the front inside the final furlong, the winner battled on well to thwart Li Mu Bai (13/2) and the 11/2 joint favourite Zumoradda by a neck and a head, with only three quarters of a length in total covering the first five home.

It was a second success for the Bobby’s Kitten gelding who had won over a mile on yielding ground at Gowran Park in May.

Winning trainer Ciaran Murphy said: "He got his ground, which was a big help, but we were very worried about the draw. Gavin was very good on him.

"I fancied him coming and thought he'd have won the last day in Ballinrobe when he slipped turning in and Oisin (Orr) minded him.

"He loved the hill and hung on and I'm over the moon with the horse. We thought plenty of him as a two-year-old but he grew and was backward so we minded him along.

"It was always in my mind that Gavin is so good around here and he did his job very well.

"He'll have an entry for the weekend and we’ll see how he is."

Quotes from Thomas Weekes