Holeinthewall Bar proved a welcome tonic for his owner Steve Fahy as the Michael Hourian trained gelding, named after Fahy's iconic Galway pub, landed the Forenaghts Stud Handicap Hurdle at Limerick today.

The Mikey Fogarty ridden winner was all out in the closing stages for a half length win over The Winkler

Hourigan later commented "that was great for Steve who has been a great supporter of mine. He hasn't been well and I told him not to come today with the weather being so bad.

"He'll have got as big a buzz from watching it on TV though and was on the phone straight after the race.

"He (Holeinthewall Bar) was mugged on the line twice this year and he's the type of horse who would also win in England. He is for sale and is handicapped over fences and his jumping today was impeccable."

According to galwaycitypubguide.com, the Hole In The Wall Bar "gets crazy" during the week of the Galway Races.

By Tom Weekes