Review galway 30th Jul

< Brendan Brackan put up a spectacular performance to spreadeagle the field in the feature Topaz Mile Handicap on the second day of the Galway Festival.

The Ger Lyons-trained four-year-old didn't have a particularly good draw in stall 10, but Colin Keane was able to get him into a good position and he travelled sweetly up to the leaders heading to the final quarter-mile.

Once given the go-ahead, Brendan Brackan (10-1) surged clear to put the race to bed and try as they might, Brog Deas and last year's winner Vastonea could make no inroads. The winning distance was eight and a half lengths.

Mouse Morris's eight-year-old Rathlin (13-8) completed a hat-trick with a terrific performance in the Latin Quarter Chase in the Gigginstown House Stud colours.

Davy Russell was up with the pace set by Hidden Cyclone all the way and Rathlin stamped his authority on the contest from four out, galloping on strongly to win by six lengths, with favourite Woolcombe Folly never able to raise a a threat in third.

In the day's other jumps event Harry Kelly's mare Que Pasa (7-1) led at the final flight and pulled out the stops for Davy Condon to take the Topaz Novice Hurdle by a neck from favourite Shamar A thrilling finish also involved Monday's winner Diplomat

The latter's handler Dermot Weld didn't take long to add another success to his two on Monday when 2-5 favourite Tarfasha proved much too good in the Topaz EBF Fillies Maiden, stretching clear under Pat Smullen to score by three and a quarter lengths after leading just about all the way.

Weld's double hopes were dashed when odds-on debutante Pirate Cove flopped in the Caulfieldindustrial.com EBF Maiden, which went to Gary Carroll on Joe Murphy's Sister Slew (8-1), who led all the way and held Tax Reform s surge by a nose.

Tony Martin's Busted Tycoon (9-4 favourite), rapidly improving over jumps, destroyed the opposition in the Caulfieldindustrial.com Handicap to win by three and three-quarter lengths under Fran Berry.