Hasanour comes good for Halford

The colours of Richard McNally came up narrowly short at Galway on Tuesday with Foot Soldier but the blue and yellow came out the right side of a tight finish when the Michael Halford-trained Shane Foley-ridden Hasanour prevailed in the Guinness Time Handicap. Sretaw (13/2 into 5/1), finishing second for the sixth time in succession (also in the silver medal position on Tuesday evening) couldn't find a way past despite trading at as short as 1/3 in running and a head separated her from Hasanour at the finish.

From a bad draw in fifteen, Shalamzar came home well for the third spot, a further length and three parts back.

Halford said: "It all worked out well as it opened up nicely for him.

"It's been a nightmare week for us until this but this horse is settling better and has plenty of pace.

"He can step back up in trip again and he'd get another furlong."

"If they'd gone another furlong I think he'd have stayed a neck or a head in front. He was just pricking his ears when he got there and he'll get a mile and a quarter in time," was Foley's debrief. (TW & EM)