Orandi (16/1) ridden by Robbie Colgan landed the feature event last night in Galway picking a winning pot of €63,000 for Trim connections and businessman CJ Murtagh and family. A delighted Murtagh paid praise to Tony Martin whose ability to place his horses and plan campaigns will be well known in the racing industry.
Always prominent Colgan didn’t panic when he lost racing room and waited for the opening when the space opened on the inside rail to move into the lead about a furlong out. Martin said he may have got there early but Colgan never surrendered his lead to win by by a length and three quarters.
Rte racing commentator Brian Gleeson gets reaction from Trim’s C J Murtagh ,one of the owners as their Orandi landed the feature race Colm Quinn Mile on Tuesday 28th July at the Galway Festival. Above Liam Healey getting the connections sorted for presentation pic.
There was plenty of smiles in the enclosure in Ballybrit afterwards. Oristown based trainer Michael Mulvany’s Ribee(11/1) ran a good race too finishing fifth nut weakened up the hill when looking a danger on the outside on the turn for home.
On Monday another Trim man, Colin Keane partnered Noel Meade’s trained Madbadanddanerous (11/2) winning the Gra Chocolate Handicap over a 1m 41/2F. The top weight fresh from his Ulster Derby success came from off the pace to win by a neck to Wp Mullins Sharkboy. It has been a great few days for the champion jockey with his success on Kalpana (13/2) winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1) at Ascot on Saturday for winning connections Juddmonte and trained by Andrew Balding.
Today’s Galway card will feature the Tote Galway Plate off at 18.40 in the 7 card programme, first race at 17.05 with plenty of local interest with Gavin Cromwell two runners, Gordon Elliott four runners and Noel Meade one runner in the Grade 3 , 2m 61/2f race with 25 runners out to win.
