Hogan partners first double as Meehall provides McNamara with yet another winner

Calum Hogan completed his first double at odds of 81/1 as Meehall continued a rich vein of form for the Eric McNamara yard by taking the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Hurdle in decisive fashion at Galway.

The Mahler gelding, recording a fourth career win which also includes this race back in 2022, made headway on the outer to lead two out.

The 9/2 favourite soon took control and was ridden out on the run-in to beat Walk In Time by three and three-quarter lengths. Barryroe Madam was a further half a length back in third with Stowaway Lass completing the places in fourth.

Hogan (18) recorded the first leg of his landmark double when successful aboard Scotcantou (14/1) in the auction maiden hurdle.

McNamara was represented by his son Conor who said, “Calum gave him a beautiful ride and claiming the 7lb off 12 stone was a big help. They went a good gallop; they were on a nice part of the track and he jumped really well.

"He likes the track, the trip and gets through that softer ground. He is very versatile, that's his second win of the summer and we'll look for something similar over either fences or hurdles in the next few weeks."

Regarding his own return to race-riding, he added: "I'm back in two weeks' time after getting a bad concussion at Tramore in August. I couldn't get it right and got a repeat concussion at home so that has held me up."

Quotes by Tom Weekes