Early August Galway and it must be Minella Beau

Minella Beau left behind form figures of ‘pp’ off a 218 day break to win for the third time in succession on August 2nd at Ballybrit, in the Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase.

Continuing a good week for owners, the Mees, trainer, Willie Mullins, and jockey, Paul Townend, the King’s Theatre gelding was well-backed to do so as well, going off the 4/1 market-leader.

The gallant Icantsay tried valiantly to give the bookmakers a result, but that 20/1 shot eventually had to yield by half a length.

Third in the race last year, Mine Now again took the bronze medal, two lengths back.

Following on from Russian Diamond, Zero Ten and Diamond Hill, this was a fourth winner of Galway 2019 for the Mees, an 8th for Mullins and a 5th for Townend.

"I thought Paul got two fine jumps out of him at the final two fences - the 'mooneen', and both times he got lengths and that was the whole difference," said Willie Mullins.

"The second horse put in a huge performance to make the running and we just beat him and if the second jumped the last two as well as we did it would have been a different result but we were lucky enough on the day.

"Being Annette Mee's horse, a lot of his year revolves around Galway and he'd have to improve a lot to get into the Plate next year. That will be his target next year if he goes up in the weights."

Sore after his fall from Swingbridge here, Mark Enright is gone to Galway University Hospital with a possible back injury.

The Stewards received a request from John Patrick Ryan, trainer of Icantsay, to substitute the nominated rider, L. Quinlan, with R.M. Power. The trainer stated that Mr. Quinlan had become unwell this morning and was not fit to ride the horse today. He further stated that this horse required a strong rider and felt that another claiming rider apart from Mr. Quinlan who knows the horse well may not have the strength to competently ride the horse which is why he requested an experienced rider in R.M. Power. Having considered the evidence, the Stewards allowed the request for substitution but in view of Mr. Quinlan not presenting himself to the Medical Officer on duty or the Clerk of the Scales to be weighed out, referred him to the CEO of the IHRB for further investigation.

P.T. Enright, rider of Aranhill Chief trained by S.J.Mahon, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount stopped quickly and pulled up.

D.N. Russell, rider of Ned Stark trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled.

The Stewards interviewed R.M. Power, rider of Icantsay, concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards found the rider in breach of Reg.10.3.(g)(frequency) and having taken his record into account cautioned him.

(TW & EM)