Results Galway Wed, 30th Jul, 2025

Ebor bound Hipop outclasses his rivals in Galway opener

After running over two-miles here last year he is probably used to going a bit faster. I think he really appreciated the step-up in trip and the benefit of the run coming here this year helped him as well. Coming off of the Flat, this is a different type of racing and they just go a good bit quicker early. He wasn't pulling and dragging my arms out, but I was still happy to let him go to the front once we had a couple of hurdles jumped. He came to us last year. He ran a cracker here in Galway and ran a really good race in the Ebor, which I think we’ll probably head back for now after that,. Looking at him jumping there he was electric for a horse having his second run over hurdles, coming from Poland. The only jumping he did was in our place. He was so confident in himself, just skimming the tops of the hurdles. I’d say Paul’s heart was in his mouth. You like a handicapper doing that but not a horse first time out over hurdles. He really enjoyed himself, he was loving it.

Queally's Kauto makes the most of his opportunity

It's a big day and these are the meetings that you need to be having winners at,. I got a dream run around, I followed Danny Mullins as he's usually fairly good on ground. He's a funny horse, when he grabs it he races with you and he gives everything. You have to keep him in a coma like a Flat horse. I was watching the boys get ahead of me going down the hill but I said I'd fill him again. When you let him out you can feel him start to come back under you a little. I winged by Donagh (Meyler, on Arctic Gale) heading to the second last and he stayed on up the hill really well. He has a serious heart, he's a great trier. He was off for two years with a leg, he broke down very badly. All the lads looked after him very well. My father looked after him very well, it was a long road but it was well worth it. He was in Fethard (Equine Hospital) for a long time and Ger Kelly said it was 50/50. He said when he's so good give him the chance and we gave him the full two years. It was a long process coming back, trotting him for a couple of months. It's all worked out and he's a lovely horse. He's only rated 109 over fences. We might go for the McCarthys Bar Lexington Handicap Chase at Tramore. It's kind of a local race and I'd say my Dad would like to win it.

O'Brien threads eye of a Needle on Cleopatra's

I just thought I'd keep it simple, I got all the gaps and it worked. It's a big deal (to get the win) and I'm a bit shocked to be honest, but I really enjoyed it. I'm 23 and from north Co. Dublin. I'm with Dermot McLoughlin, Gavin Cromwell, Bill Durkan and Henry de Bromhead. I do bits and pieces everywhere. I try to spread myself around and it's working well. My agent Gary Cribbin got me on this lad and got me a nice ride tomorrow (Lord Erskine in the Galway Hurdle), so he's doing a marvellous job and I can't thank him enough. I never sat on this mare before today to be honest, but speaking to Kieren Buckley, Sean Flanagan and Harry Rogers, they filled me with loads of confidence, so I was happy to take the chance and it worked. The people that own her (the Nap Racing Syndicate) love coming here and it’s great to have a winner here. She’s not a bad filly. That's the first time that young chap has ridden for me. Gary Cribbin, his agent, put him on to me and you couldn't ask for any better. I honestly thought she had a great chance but I thought the ground might be gone on her, I thought it was gone a little bit on the slow side. In fairness she did it well, I don't know whether she'd go on any softer than that but she's done it.

Fold provides Gilligan & Elliott with further Galway Plate glory

I've been coming here ever since I can remember and just even to be riding in these races it's a massive privilege. I can't thank Gordon and his owners enough to be giving me the chances and I'm delighted for the way it worked out. He (Gordon) has had great luck in this race and he's so easy to ride for. He leaves it up to us and he knows the story in these big races. You could go out with a plan and it could change very quick. There is no pressure going out and I can't thank him enough. He jumped super and since he has got nice ground he is really starting to improve with every run. I wasn't sure after the last day because he got a bit of a hike after winning at Ballinrobe. I knew he had a live chance and he proved today that he is a top quality horse. I've been on a bit of a dry spell at the minute but days like this are what we dream of and I just can't believe it. He's a right horse. Bobby O'Ryan bought him for David (L'Estrange) and John (Wright) and the boys have been very patient with him, he was a bit backward when he was young. This race has been the plan for a while so I'm delighted the lads are here, it's a dream for the lads to be here and win the race. Bobby put the syndicate together so all credit has to go to him. Everything worked out great. Danny got away at the start and the horse jumped like a buck, I think he just missed one into the dip. Everything went right and it was poetry in motion.

Edelak is a sweet winner for Benson

Scott Key has Slattery dreaming of next year

Teed Up dubbed 'a soldier' after dramatic sixth Galway win