Jesse Evans, near side, finishes best of the leading players© Photo Healy Racing
Jesse Evans who is know for his fondness for Galway, secured his first victory at the track in the beginners' chase over an extended 2m2f.
Noel Meade 's stalwart has been placed in three Galway Hurdles and has now secured eight career victories (at seven different tracks).
He raced in a handy fourth for Sam Ewing on the downhill run to the penultimate fence and closed right up in tackling that obstacle.
He was one of three horses (with Shecouldbeanything and A Law Of Her Own who went on after the last. He looked to be going better than his main rivals on the approach to the home straight and soon held a narrow lead.
Ewing asked him to go and win his race inside the final furlong and the eight-year-old gelding stayed on well by two and a-quarter lengths to grab his first success over fences (at 5/2).
Shecouldbeanything was punted down to 11/8 favourite, but had to settle for second. She was a neck up on A Law Of Her Own (20/1).
Meade said: "I'd say the mistake in Killarney did him good as he was absolutely foot-perfect the whole way around (third on chasing debut). All his schooling had been excellent, so that was his first time making a mistake.
"He had a little injury in the spring which held him up and while I had intended to put him over fences at the big meeting in the summer, with the Hurdle being worth so much money we put a claimer on, but he wasn't as sharp this year.
"He is a good ground horse and I'd love to think he'd be back next year for the Plate - that would be my dream with him if he stayed right. While the ground is dry, we'll continue until the beginning of the winter and the Cheltenham October meeting is in the mix.
"He has been fantastic and was initially sold by the Bleahens, in a year when they sold many horses for over €100,000, but I got him for €15,000 and turned out to be the best one."
Comparing Jesse Evans to his dual Galway Hurdle winner of the 1980s Pinch Hitter, he added "Pinch Hitter was a miler and never jumped fences. He was very unsound and only ever came sound for a couple of months ever summer; they were two different horses."
Pinch Hitter was victorious in the Galway Hurdles of 1982 and 1983.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
