Joey Sasa puts them away in Ballybrit

Joey Sasa (2/1) drew right away for a wide-margin victory in Galway's bumper for Noel Meade and Nina Carberry.

The seven-year-old gelding disputed the lead with Palmabad before taking up the initative himself with over three furlongs left.

The 11/10 favourite, Champagne Classic was ridden to try and collar the leader sweeping round the home bend.

However, Joey Sasa was still on the bridle and was then pushed along coming to the final furlong to assert.

He opened up to win by seven and a half lengths from the market jolly. Justmemyselfandi (10/1) finished half a length behind the runner-up in third.

Noel Meade said: "All along we thought he wanted soft ground but he loved the good today. He keeps going and I'd say he is a reasonable horse.

"He missed a couple of years not because he was injured but because he wasn't brought in until he was a six-year-old, so that's why he is as old as he is.

"He jumps well and will go for a maiden hurdle next."

Joey Sasa was last seen taking third place in a pair of bumpers in Navan and at Clonmel in March.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes