Motherland rules the roost in Galway

Motherland proved popular with punters as he was sent off the 2/1 favourite from 7/2 in the morning and the money proved spot on in Ballybrit.

Last month's Ballinrobe winner had caught clear leader Restive with three furlongs left in this extended mile and four handicap.

Motherland and Donnacha O'Brien kicked on two and a half furlongs down and went further and further clear in the straight from Forceful, who tried in vain to hunt him down on the home bend.

The winner put 17 lengths on Forceful (14/1) with Baliyka (3/1) a further three lengths back in third.

On his first Galway Festival winner as a trainer, Joseph O'Brien said: "I suppose you get even more of a kick out of it if anything. He was working nicely and he has been improving with racing. I didn't expect him to win quite as well as he did. It was a funny kind of a race, the distances might have been exaggerated a bit but I think he's a nice horse.

"He could be (a Stakes horse). Quite a well-bred horse. The rain probably helped him today and he stays very well. I thought he would go very close today and may be hard to beat but I didn't think he would win like that.

"We'll see what the handicapper does but there is a 1m6f handicap at York on Ebor day for three-year-olds. He is good to jump but he might even be worth keeping to the flat."

Joseph O'Brien reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his other horse in the race, Birthplace, stumbled on both forelegs upon leaving the stalls and dislodged his rider Ana O'Brien. Video evidence confirmed this report.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes