Gale continues Martin's storming run

Tony Martin and Ruby Walsh doubled up after Blackmail s win in the first when Victrix Gale justified 7/2 favouritism in the €40,000 Tote Jackpot Guarantee Handicap Hurdle at Galway. Leading trainer of the week Tony Martin is now on the five winner mark (indeed in the last five races his horses have contested they've won).

The victorious Presenting mare was travelling best approaching the straight and she asserted from the last to triumph by an easy seven lengths from Happy New Year

"I'm just happy that they're running so well and it's great that they're winning.

"This mare won three last year. She ran very well at Perth on her comeback run and she then pulled muscles after a mistake she made at Uttoxeter.

"We were concerned about the ground but she did do a super bit of work last Friday," disclosed Martin in the aftermath.

Meanwhile Des Grace, a member of the winning Badgers Syndicate, said: "We're all from Tralee and we rely on what Tony tells us. Once you get a horse with him you're in!" (TW & EM)