Un Beau Roman (orange and green) will bid to go one place better than he did at Galway in August© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins landed the feature race at Galway as Devils Pride (10-1) bounced back to form in the Guinness Handicap Steeplechase.< Un Beau Roman was expected to prove best of the Mullins pair but he faded tamely having attempted to make all and it was left to his stablemate to produce a strong finish to see off Fosters Cross by a length and three quarters.
There was another winner for Mullins in the Eventus Beginners Chase but only after Ruby Walsh had produced a riding masterclass aboard Icy Reply
The 11-8 market leader found herself a long way adrift after several mistakes on the first circuit with Walsh niggling away, but the champion jockey coaxed his mount closer to the action as the race developed and produced a power-packed driving finish to get her up by a neck.< Ballychorus led from pillar to post when running out a game winner of the Galway City & Salthill Publicans EBF Mares Hurdle.
The 10-3 winner was quickly sent to the front by Adrian Heskin and despite looking in trouble when joined by Tri Na Ceile entering the home straight, Mags Mullins' daughter of King's Theatre kept finding for pressure and had two lengths to spare as she hit the line.
Heskin brought up a double for the evening when partnering Perfect Promise (11-4) to victory in the Ryans Cleaning Steeplechase.
The seven-year-old was runner-up at the Festival here last time and gained a deserved success this time round, jumping with aplomb on the front end before galloping five lengths clear of eventual runner-up Shantou Flyer
The opening Mervue Maiden Hurdle was a race of changing fortunes as Whiskey No Ice (11-8) passed Vermout Fougeray and long-time leader Iffjack on the run-in to claim a three and a quarter length success.< Afatcat (11-2 joint-fav) came through with a well-timed challenge to take the Galway City & Salthill Publicans Charity Handicap Hurdle.
