Culloty saddles first Festival winner

Jim Culloty's Electric Concorde won a final-furlong battle with Robin Des Foret in the concluding bumper on day one of the Galway Festival.

The five-year-old gelding proved too strong in the final 150 yards as he went on by three and a half lengths to win at 8/1.

The runner-up, for Willie and Patrick Mullins, was a 4/1 chance. Mindsmadeup (20/1) came home third, beaten eight and a half lengths by the winner.

Jim Culloty said: "He's a lovely horse who wants three miles over hurdles. He ran an adequate race in March and we put him aside for this.

"Finny gave him a peach and the horse galloped the whole way to the line. He'll probably go on over hurdles now and wants a trip. He's a King's Theatre and that ground is spot-on for him - he wants the easy side of good. Stamina is his forte.

"Finny has ridden for me a couple of times and is an excellent rider. This is my first Galway Festival winner."

This gave owner Dr Ronan Lambe a double on the card as his Right Honourable took the earlier seven-furlong maiden.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes