Current Option makes Galway history with third 'Ahonoora' win

Current Option became the first horse ever to win the Ahonoora Handicap three years in succession, when landing the feature race on day seven of the Galway festival.

The Ado McGuinness trained six-year-old received a textbook ride from young Cian MacRedmond, who had him away smartly and tucked in behind the early pacesetters.

Travelling easily in fifth place coming out of the dip, it seemed just a case of when MacRedmond pushed the bottom, as Current Option loomed large behind the leaders.

Soon eased into third, the McGuinness trained gelding mowed down stablemate Spanish Tenor and British raider On A Session to win snugly. The latter horse was runner-up for the second successive year having also chased home Current Option in 2021.

As well as the winner, McGuiness also trained the third(Laugh A Minute), fourth(Sirjack Thomas) and fifth(Spanish Tenor) horses home.

Ado McGuinness said, “I might never get a horse like him again. He’s been fabulous to have and the lads are great supporters.

“He’s a Group 3 winner, a Listed winner, won a list of Premier Handicaps and taken us everywhere. He just loves this place and was unlucky in the Mile the other night.

“He’s just down to a very nice mark and we’ll probably try for the big handicap in Leopardstown. He’s won that before as well.

“Some of my horses were a bit out of form in June but they have come back and we always primed this fellow for here. We give him the same routine each year and try and prepare him for here. It works.

“I could make a case for everyone of the horses I ran today and On A Session’s trainer mustn’t like me as we keep beating him!

“Laugh A Minute has run a cracker and watch him in the autumn for a good handicap on soft ground. Casanova nbsp;didn’t get a clear run.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.