O'Keeffe doubles up but Burke earns plaudits

Jockey Martin Burke took the plaudits in the Anna O'Coinne Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Galway even though his mount Thousand Tears was beaten into third at the finish.

The jockey's mount made a mistake at the first hurdle and his saddle slipped. He proceeded to take the field along for the rest of the race with his feet out of the irons.

Remarkably, Thousand Tears was still in front jumping the last but was worn down on the run-in by Andratx and then Declan Queally's Young Fitzy who finished with a wet sail.

Young Fitzy stormed home by a length and three quarters at 11/4 from well-backed Andratx (18/1 - 9/1). The admirable Thousand Tears was half a length back in third at 6/1.

Declan Queally jnr said: "That is a dream come true for the boys (Bitter Sweet Syndicate). There are seven in the syndicate from Galway and their colours are maroon and white.

"After winning in Tramore I said we'd come here for this race and thankfully it has worked out. He'll get a few pounds for that and I wouldn't rule out giving him a little break now and aim for something around Christmas."

Winning jockey Darragh O'Keeffe sealed a double as he was also on Ballywilliam Boy in the novice hurdle.

M.P. Burke, rider of Thousand Tears trained by John M.Burke, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a bad mistake at the first hurdle and his saddle slipped. He also stated that he rode with his feet out of the irons for the remainder of the race.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes