Galway Races 2008 - Results Thursday 30 July 2008

Galway Races - Results 2008

Thursday 31 July

Indian Pace wins Guinness Galway Hurdle

Galway results in brief

1.50 Tasman 7/1 B J Geraghty (L McAteer)

2.25 Skip Two 9/1 B M Cash (D Fitzgerald)

3.00 Define 10/1 D F O'Regan (J Motherway)

3.40 Indian Pace 7/1 P Townend (5) (J Kiely)

4.25 Tin Town Boy 25/1 M Harley (7) (H Rogers)

5.00 Miranda's Girl 5/1 R P Cleary (T Cleary)

5.35 Maundy Money 11/2 C O'Donoghue (D Marnane)

6.05 Noble Commander 8/1 Mr A T Duff (3) (J Halpin)

Galway Races full results for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday:
Galway Results - Monday 28 July 2008

Galway Results - Tuesday 30 July 2008

Galway Results - Wednesday 30 July 2008

Full results for Thursday will appear later.

200th Galway Winner for Dermot Weld

Lady Alicia, 6/1 winner of the William Hill Irish Sports Book Maiden, was Dermot Weld's 200th all-time winner at Galway and his 8th winner of Galway Races 2008.

Remember what we said at the beginning of this week?

"No fuel in your petrol tank? Nothing left in the ATM?
Never mind. Jump on your bike, saddle the old grey mare or grab your walking stick and follow Dermot Weld - 'The Baron of Ballybrit' (as 'The Irish Field' dubbed him on Saturday) to the Galway Races."

And we're not even half-way through the week!

Galway Races 2008 - Results Wednesday 30 July

Galway Races - Results 2008

Wednesday 30 July

Oslot wins Galway Plate for Walsh and Nichols

Galway results in brief

1.50 Desert Abbey 7/1 A D Leigh (Mrs J Harrington)

2.25 Clover Pearl 9/1 P W Flood (M Cullen)

3.00 Directa King 3/1 JT FAV P J Smullen (D K Weld)

3.40 Oslot 11/4 FAV Ruby Walsh (P Nichols)

4.25 Invincible Joe 8/1 K Latham (G Lyons)

5.00 Lady Alicia 6/1 Mr M M O'Connor (5) (D K Weld)

5.35 Vanishing Causeway 16/1 F M Berry (D Marnane)

6.05 Amarama 7/2 W J Supple (D Myerscough)

"The Money's in the Bag Now!"

After Directa King, the D K Weld trained winner of the William Hill Handicap, raced home 17 lengths clear of the second horse, Cloone River, the following exchange took place on RTE:

Commentator Tony O'Hehir : "That was a handicap and Directa King has absolutely bolted in."

Ted Walsh: "The Weld bandwagon keeps rolling along. He said beforehand that he fancied it well. The one man I'd say is running for cover is our Flat handicapper. How, in the name of God, a horse can win a competitive handicap at Galway by that far is beyond me. He didn't win it by two lengths or three lengths. He won it by as far as you'd see a horse win a 3 mile chase. I mean it wasn't a handicap - it was a horse dropped in.

(Viewing the replay) "He left ... The rest of them were in a heap behind. There's not a lot to choose between them, but this horse goes further and further in front off a rating of 72. I'm sure he (the Flat handicapper) is asking himself how he got this so wrong. And so wrong did he get it.

"Plenty of money for him (Directa King). Loads of support. And he absolutely bolted in."

Robert Hall: "Ted, in fairness to the handicapper, the horse has only had one run in this country and he was placed in it. The handicapper was judging him on his German form. He won a couple of small races in Germany. So it was difficult."

Ted: "Difficult? Yes, it was difficult, but he didn't half get it wrong."

Robert: "He got it wrong. He'd admit that, but he won't get it quite so wrong the next time."

Ted: "Ah, no he won't. But the money's in the bag now. The robbery is committed. We're all gone home. Ha! Ha!"

Dermot Weld Expects Huge Run from Ansar

Ansar's Galway Plate Prospects

Last week Dermot Weld told 'The Irish Field': "Ansar went to Ballinrobe on Monday for his usual pre-Galway prep and he is in great shape. He is an amazing horse around Ballybrit, winning there on seven occasions, including the Galway Hurdle and two Galway Plates. I am well aware that he hasn't won since 2005 and that he is now a 12-year-old. Yet he is full of enthusiasm and I have been impressed with his two runs on the flat.

He is a very sound horse, he is very fresh and he is very well. With 11 stone on his back, he has been given a great chance by the handicapper. I know it is a big ask but I'm expecting a huge run from him on Wednesday."

The Ansar lies in the soil

Dermot Weld confirmed today that Ansar (a firm ground specialist) is in great form but added: "They say that the ground is dead and that won't be in his favour."

Ted Walsh RTE

Robert Hall and Ted Walsh

RTE racing pundit Ted Walsh appears to know the pedigree of every horse and the genealogy of every owner, trainer, jockey and stable lad in Ireland. He is by far the most entertaining, informative and quotable individual on Irish television.

If you can't make it to the Galway Races, don't miss Ted and Robert and the rest of the team on RTE. And if you do manage to get to the races, don't forget to record RTE's coverage for posterity. You'll be glad you did.

A summer delight to brighten winter evenings!

Galway Races Results - Tuesday 29 July

Galway Races - Results 2008

Tuesday 29 July

The full results of all today's races at the Galway Summer Racing Festival will be published this evening at Galway Races - Results - Tuesday 29 July 2008

Double Delight for Weld and Smullen

Galway Results in brief

5.10 Winterdown Star 10/1 T G M Ryan (M J O'Brien)

5.45 Reisk Superman 5/1 CO FAV R Walsh (A J Martin)

6.20 My Valley 10/1 S M Gorey(3) (P Fahy)

7.00 Celtic Dane 7/1 C D Hayes (G McCann)

7.35 Rare Ransom 4/5 FAV P J Smullen (D K Weld)

8.10 Maundy Money 9/1 C O'Donoghue (D Marnane)

8.40 Award Ceremony 3/1 P J Smullen (D K Weld)

Ted Walsh on Robbie McNamara's Victory

Commenting on Robbie McNamara's G.P.T. Galway Handicap win on Majestic Concorde, Dermot Weld said: "He gave him a beautiful ride. Robbie's a tall guy, bu I got him to get down behind his horse and sit in like maybe I used to do years ago. He gave him a peach of a ride. I said to him, 'Remember, Robbie, the rail is the shortest way round', and that's what he did. That's what won the race. He's a really, really good amateur."

Ted Walsh emphasised the remarkable weight loss McNamara had achieved in pursuit of this victory: "If anyone deserved to win this race it was Robbie McNamara. If you'd seen how much weight this young man had to lose to ride this horse. He looks like a Biafran. If you saw his face there.

He's a big tall lad (6ft 2in), a big lad. He had 9 pounds to lose in the last couple of days. He spent more time running and sweating in a sauna. There's nothing there. If you see his face, all you can see is his eyes. He's like a scarecrow.

He's absolutely done a great job. He's given this horse a wonderful ride. He's ridden for a great man, Dermot Weld. I'm delighted for him. When someone tries that hard, you love to see him getting a result."