Nans View provides Fahey with welcome win in Galway feature

Claiming the feature Guinness Handicap, Nans View picked an opportune time to end a lengthy barren spell for Jarlath Fahey.

Successful over the course and distance in October and an eye-catching second on her most recent start at Navan in June, the Leigh Roche-ridden four-year-old was sent off a 12/1 chance this evening.

Tracking the leaders early on before soon improving into a clear second, she joined the front-running Cloud Seeker with half-a-mile to go.

Pushed along and gaining an outright advantage approaching the straight, the 85-rated bay was ridden from the furlong pole and was all out to hold off the late surge of Cheeky Wink with a diminishing neck between them at the line.

The Johnny Murtagh-trained runner-up was returned at 5/1 (touched 12s early) under Ben Coen, while the easy-to-back Acapulco Bay (11/2 from 2s early) was half-a-length away in third.

A gamble on the Emmet Mullins-trained Lord Church ultimately went astray. The subject of strong support near the off and returned the 10/3 favourite (from 7s), the four-year-old ultimately finished seventh.

"I thought halfway up the straight we were there, the last 50 to 100 yards was very terrifying!" Fahey, who was registering his first winner since November, reflected.

"She is game and she did hang on well in fairness. It was a brilliant ride by Leigh.

"She was second here at the festival last year and she won over a mile-and-a-half in the last race of the year (in October). That's been a lucky race for us as we won it a couple of years ago with Whatcouldhavebeen.

"That day Ronan said she could be a premier handicap filly next year so this was half in our mind from then and we were minding her.

"A few things went wrong and the yard hasn't been in form all year. They are running well but they aren't winning. We minded her for here and thankfully it worked out.

"You don't change a whole lot, you're not doing anything wrong, it’s just that things aren't firing the way they were last year.

"Races fell at the right time, right ground, right everything, we had a blistering year.

"This year things just aren't working out. Horses weren't as healthy, races weren't coming up right, ground conditions weren't coming up right. You just have to sit and wait and hope it comes right.

"Both my parents are from Galway, down the road in Eyre Court. The filly was named the year my mother died, she was a big Galway woman.

"She was called Nans View because Mam used to always look out on the yard. We didn't think she'd turn out as good as she did.

"I don't know whether it’s divine intervention, luck, or someone looking after us but for her to be a Galway specialist and win a premier handicap on a Galway day there is more at play here than just good training."

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Raceday Stewards interviewed Emmet Mullins, trainer, concerning the failure to nominate a rider before the designated time for Lord Church. Evidence was heard from the trainer concerned who stated that it was a miscommunication on his behalf and apologised. Having considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards allowed the nomination of D. McMonagle but found the trainer in breach of Regulation 3 and having taken his clean record into account, they cautioned him on this occasion.

C.D. Hayes, rider of Layfayette trained by Noel Meade, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was slowly away.

R. Whearty, rider of O'Reilly (FR), trained by Peter Fahey, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was slowly into stride.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson