Easy for Alvaniy in Galway opener Alvaniy easily justified favouritism in the opener at Galway this afternoon, the Kenny Developments Maiden Hurdle. Placed in bumpers on his first two starts when in the care of Paul Gammel, he was a solid fifth on his debut for Willie Mullins and Paul Byrne. That recent effort was his initial try over hurdles and the Iffraaj gelding was clearly expected to come on plenty for the experience. Briefly available at 11/4 in early shows, the chestnut victor was eventually returned the clear market leader at 5/4. Racing mainly in second under Brian Hayes and not fluent at times, he jumped to the front at the last and soon eased clear, coming home four-and-a-half lengths to the good. A dual winner on the level in the UK, Whimsy (40/1) ran on well to take second under Adrian Heskin for Anthony McCann, while Team Of Firsts (20/1) was a head back in third. "He had finished fifth in a good Galway festival maiden hurdle and it was an average enough maiden today, so he was entitled to do that," Hayes commented. "He is flat-bred, was a little clumsy in jumping and has a lot to learn in that regard. He is a nice type though and hopefully will progress." STEWARDS REPORT * R. Deegan, rider of Late Vocation, trained by P.F.McEnery, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount ran very keen. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
