Review GALWAY 5TH AUG

Diego Garcia recorded his second success of the week when running out a gutsy winner of the Freshways Handicap Hurdle on Saturday at Galway.

Ruby Walsh's mount found himself short of room at the last in the 45,000 event but responded well when the gap opened close home.

The gelding darted through to record a cosy three-quarters-of-a-length success over Tasman, following up his success on the Flat on Tuesday.

'He had to fight his corner today,' remarked winning trainer Willie Mullins. 'He obviously loves this track and came out of the race on Tuesday really well.'

'We'll probably target a race for him back here in September. He's a horse that will hopefully come back to the festival many times in years to come.'

Mullins went on to complete a double when Drumderry ran out an impressive nine-length winner of the concluding Kerrymaid Festival INH Flat Race.

The contest was marred, however, by the fatal fall of Shellackabookie. He brought down Crock A Doyle and Frontier Lady with The Hedge also hampered and unseating his jockey.

Local trainer Val O'Brien had also saddled a double earlier on the card when landing the opening two contests with Gerannjo and Half Barrell.

It was a special day for Michael Fahy, who partnered his first winner aboard Gerannjo in the Jockeys Association Maiden Hurdle.

The 19-year-old, who hails from nearby Claregalway, had his mount prominent throughout and showed composure from the last to hold the challenge of Irish Stream by three lengths.

The veteran Half Barrell took his tally to five around Ballybrit when running out a game winner of the Low Low Galway Blazers Handicap Chase.

Niall Madden sent the 14-year-old to the lead jumping the last and he pulled out all the stops up the straight to score by two lengths from Lifes A Flyer.

'He's probably a stone better around this course and he'll come back here in September for something,' said O'Brien.

Hammers Boy showed great determination to wear down Howya Now Kid in the final furlong of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery.

Billy Lee got a good response out of the Mujadil colt down the straight to lead close home for a half-length success.

The Tommy Stack-trained winner is owned by a group of West Ham footballers including Teddy Sheringham. A premier nursery at Tralee is next on the cards.

Dermot Weld made it six for the week when Blue Coral (4/7f) justified his short price in the Dawn Juice EBF Maiden.

The Grand Lodge colt responded well when asked to stretch in the straight by Pat Smullen, going on for a three-and-a-half-length success over Abide With Me.

The winner runs in the colours of Coca-Cola chairman Don Keough, who was on hand to greet the colt. Weld nominated the Goffs Million Race at the Curragh (September 19th) as a target.

Always The Groom was produced with a well-timed challenge by Danny Grant to run out a convincing two-length winner of the Cheestrings Handicap and is set to turn out again at Cork tomorrow if alright in the morning.