Soaring Monarch © Photo Healy Racing
The featured John McGuire Handicap was won by 7/2 joint-favourite Soaring Monarch in the hands of Niall McCullagh.
Placed over this 1m4f trip at the Galway festival, Basil Holian's seven-year-old tracked the leaders and went on two furlongs out to account for Scholarship by two-and-three-quarter lengths.
The Free Eagle gelding, four times a winner for Peter Fahey, is now trained by Alan McIntyre who was completing a very productive afternoon after saddling Moonhall Church to win the two-year-old claimer at Fairyhouse less than an hour earlier.
McCullagh, the veteran of the weighroom at 55, reflected: "He railed so well in Galway that I thought this sharp track would suit and I was always confident. When I saw that we had the inside draw I thought 'lovely' and I rode for a bit of luck. We had the race won two (furlongs) down and he got the trip well.
"He is like myself as he is getting on in years and likes things to go smooth, with no hassle.
"I won another Premier Handicap at Galway last year and finished third in that same race this year on this horse. I am choosey in what I ride nowadays but can still do the job!"
Quotes from Tom Weekes
