Lethal Steps forward to take the opener

Lethal Steps (10/1) took the opening race of the seven day Galway Festival when winning the Galwaybayhotel.com & Galmont.com Novice Hurdle for Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell.

The closing stages were full of incident, as the prominent Rip Rocks Paddy Ok (saddle slipped) unseated Darragh O’Keeffe on the run to the second last.

Plenty had chances at the last, but despite getting hampered by the loose horse on landing over it, the experienced Lethal Force gelding ran on well to score by two lengths and a head from the J.P.McManus-owned pair Morosini (3/1) and Winner Takes Itall (11s into 7/1).

The locally-trained outsider Ashqar was a close fourth while the 11/8 favourite Authorized Art could find no more from the last and came home in fifth place.

It was the winner’s second win from thirteen starts over hurdles, having won his maiden hurdle at Sligo in April.

“This horse has always threatened to win a nice race like this. He has a big engine but he can think about it a little bit," said winning trainer Gordon Elliott.

"But Davy gave him a great ride. We left the cross noseband and everything off today to try something different.

"It’s nice to get a winner at Galway. I thought it would be a tough enough week.

"I've got my chances in the Hurdle and the Plate but I'm delighted for (owners) Cheveley Park, they’re great supporters of the yard and this is where they want to be winning — at big festivals — so it’s great.”

“He’d loads of experience, and the nice ground and good gallop helped. He jumped well," said Davy Russell.

“It's beautiful ground, and it will take the rain. It's proper good ground but in beautiful condition.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee