Fin powers away from rivals

Ballyfinboy powered home down the straight to land the Lord Hemphill Memorial H'cap S'chase at Galway.

Jimmy Finn's charge was held up in the early stages of the 2m1f event before taking closer order five from home.

The grey looked in trouble as he was pushed along after the third last, by Eddie O'Connell, but stayed on to be fourth at the final flight and hit the front on the home bend.

The 9/2 shot (from 11/2) kept on strongly in the closing stages to post a eight-and-a-half-length winning margin over Darenjan

It was compensation for the winner who had just been touched off by a nose on his previous start at Tipperary.

“It's grand when things go right,” said owner/breeder and trainer Finn.

“He likes good ground but he had a light weight here and just got into the handicap which was a big help.

“This is by far my biggest win so far and I've a half-brother to him going to the sales this month. We'll see how he comes out of this and he might go for a two-and-a-half mile handicap in Killarney.” Pires sent off the 7/2 favourite, could only finish fifth.

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)