Excuzio Joe gets her Galway reward

Excuzio Joe didn't enjoy much luck-in-running when fourth at the Galway Festival on Tuesday, but she more than made up for that with victory in the seven furlong Ardilaun Hotel Handicap.

She was on the heels of the leaders rounding the home bend and Declan McDonogh switched her to the inner to avail of an opening.

She travelled into contention at the furlong marker and set sail with 150 yards to go. San Aer was bang there in addition to Miss Molly T and a closing Mary Salome

Excuzio Joe, the 3/1 favourite, wasn't for heading, though, as she forged on well to hit the line half a length up on Zephron (16/1). Mary Salome was a neck further back in third at 8/1.

This was a third winner of the Festival for McDonogh and Matthew Smith who said: “Declan rode her here on Tuesday night and said if he had got out he'd nearly have won.

“It was a cracking run and I was glad to see the rain come today as that's the ground that she wants. She won on heavy ground here over seven furlongs two years ago so we weren't worried about the ground.

“She pricked (her ears) and was idling a bit so that's a good sign, Declan reckon she was holding a bit.

“We'll maybe look at Listowel now and Declan said to try and keep her to that ground.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson