Hackett savours first festival success

Jockey Simon Torrens struck up a winning association with Ray Hackett as Nibblers Charm (12/1) took the Guinness Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle by a wide margin.

The seven-year-old gelding travelled smoothly to the fore and led on the bridle before the second last.

He climbed the hill well and went for home approaching the last. He jumped it clear and increased the margin to 12 lengths at the winning post. Poseidon occupied the runner-up berth, half a length in front of Fan De Blues (7/4f).

Ray Hackett said: "His run the last day sharpened him up; he can race on and off the bridle so we gave him a few spins on the flat and it worked out grand.

"The 7lbs was a huge help carrying 9st9lbs and it is Simon's first ride for me, and I'm delighted for him and he gave him a great spin.

"We were hoping he'd get into the Grade B hurdle, but that's my first Galway festival winner and we won't be greedy!

"We might look at taking him across to Cheltenham for the November meeting and he has plenty of size and scope to jump fences; I want to have a crack at a big pot before we go chasing."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes