Powersbomb (yellow sleeves/white cap) leads after the last for Mikey Fogarty© Photo Healy Racing
Powersbomb took full advantage of his light weight to justify some support in the Tote 40,000 Euro Jackpot Guarantee Handicap Hurdle.
Backed on track from 16/1 into 12/1, the five-year-old gelding travelled strongly under Mikey Fogarty to lead at the final flight.
Trained at Strandhill by Brian McMahon and successful in a bumper last summer at his local track in Sligo, he kept on well on the run-in to beat Bank Bonus by nearly five lengths. Coldstonesober was a further length and a half back in third, with Holeinthewall Bar in fourth.
McMahon said, "I thought he had a right chance off a mark of 103. He works well at home but it was just a question of putting everything together.
"The hood has helped him and kept him nice and relaxed beforehand. Jerry McGrath said he was travelling well when he was brought down at Down Royal, and I thought the two and a half miles would suit him.
"He's won at Sligo and this is a similar track. He was my first winner when winning in Sligo and it's almost 12 months to the day.
"It's been an up and down year but to win in Galway is fantastic. The owners are fairly local and have been with me since day one.
"My Dad passed away during the year and was a great supporter of mine so he might have had something to do with it. His own horse runs on Sunday so we're looking for the double."
Fogarty said, "I've missed the last couple of summers here and to get a winner at Galway is unbelievable. The plan was to get him settled. You need a lot of luck riding that way but I'd rather be staying on and get beaten than let him run too free."
(GC & AM)
