Dusty leaves it late to bring-up hat-trick

Eoin Doyle doubled his score at Galway on Saturday afternoon as Dusty Trail made it just in time to beat the game Diyla by a head in the O'Leary Insurances Handicap Hurdle under Mikey Butler. The Kilkenny stable's Days Ahead (Davy Russell) had got the previous race, the Anglo Printers Maiden Hurdle, in the steward's room.

Dusty Trail was struggling from a fair way out as Diyla made the pace and jumped brilliantly under Barry Cash. However, the successful Indian Danehill gelding is nothing if not tough and he came up the run-in strongly to prevail.

Doyle commented: "He is tough. He was off the bridle from a long way out but he keeps galloping. He'll go to Listowel for either a flat handicap or a hurdle."

Paul Holden's six-year-old is certainly a likeable type as he scored at the Festival here by a short head, it was also by the minimum margin that he prevailed in Tramore and the head victory here brought up the hat-trick for the Kevin Prendergast-bred multiple victor.