Fairytale result as 'amazing' Surrounding wins following death of owner-breeder

Thursday: Galway

Evergreen nine-year-old Surrounding delivered one of the most poignant Galway festival victories in modern times in the Listed Corrib Fillies Stakes, winning less than 24 hours after the death of her passionate owner-breeder Peter Newell at the age of 71.

Mares who have already won five times at Listed level – and once in Group 3 company – are ordinarily long retired by the time they reach the age of nine, but Surrounding has been no ordinary mare in the care of Mick Halford.

By Lilbourne Lad and out of a Doubletour mare, who was beaten 93 lengths on her only start in a bumper, the heroine of the hour won Thursday's Guinness and Irish EBF-backed contest in 2019.

Newell's family made clear their wishes for Surrounding to run despite the owner-breeder's death the previous night, and the admirable mare responded by recording the 11th win of her career.

Mick Halford on Surrounding: 'She's amazing. Her enthusiasm, her soundness - she's incredible'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Halford said: "I'd say she got a bit of help from somewhere. I'm sure he's looking down on us at an emotional time. This mare is all heart. She's amazing. Her enthusiasm, her soundness – she's incredible. I hope this helps to lift the Newell family's spirits.

"Peter was a great supporter of ours and this is the best animal they've ever produced in all their years breeding. She's very special. Ronan [Whelan] gave her a great ride."

Halford added: "We've been having a quiet year. Our horses have been healthy but we just didn't have that many. She loves that hill and this wasn't the biggest surprise in the world, but when we're having the season we're having, you need something to change your luck. Hopefully that's it."

There was early drama in the 7f contest as the Mick Mulvany-trained Red Heel appeared to jink after a furlong and a half of the contest, unseating apprentice Wesley Joyce into heavy traffic.

IHRB senior medical officer Dr Jennifer Pugh said: "Wesley Joyce has been taken to Galway University Hospital for further assessment following his fall in race four."

Holian ecstatic after memorable double

Local owner Basil Holian was the toast of Ballybrit on ladies' day after registering a memorable double with in-form trainer Peter Fahey in the space of just over half an hour.

Unbeaten chaser Visionarian made a case for a tilt at top-level company after a smart success in the Grade 3 Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase, before the same owner-trainer combination combined to land the 1m½f Rockshore Handicap with Soaring Monarch.

Basil Holian (left): recorded memorable double on day four of the Galway festivalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The double was particularly sweet for Holian, a native of Athenry in Galway who represented his county at a minor level in hurling. His company Westerwood Global in January agreed a five-year sponsorship deal with Galway's camogie (a variant of hurling) team worth €250,000.

"It's unreal – I've died and gone to heaven," said Holian. "This is a fantastic day. All compliments to Peter Fahey and his wife Ber."

Fahey could target the 134-rated hurdler Visionarian at the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse in December.

It didn't look entirely plain sailing for the 9-2 shot turning for home, where he ran short of room while making progress on the inner, but Denis O'Regan remained cool and got enough from his mount to deny eyecatching runner-up Call Me Lyreen.

"To win a Graded race is great but I got more of a thrill for Basil, a great supporter of the yard," said Fahey.

"We always thought this horse would be better over a fence and he's starting to prove that. He looked a slow jumper over hurdles but we schooled him once over fences and he was electric. He could end up being a horse for the Drinmore or something like that."

Soaring Monarch: came home strongly under a power-packed Declan McDonogh rideCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Reflecting on 6-1 scorer Soaring Monarch, Holian added: "We were patient with him and it took a while to get him back after running him when the ground was too quick last year. Today was his day, and he showed what he can do."

Rambranlt'jac extends excellent Mullins run

Fresh from a 470-1 treble on day three of the meeting, Willie Mullins wasted little time opening his account on ladies' day with Rambranlt'jac in the 2m6½f Guinness Beginners Chase.

Brian Hayes was the beneficiary of Paul Townend's decision to partner the disappointing 11-1 shot Captain Kangaroo. The winner was nibbled at in the market at 9-1 (from 14).

Crowd watch

The ladies' day crowd of 23,136 was slightly down on the last comparable figure pre-Covid in 2019, when 24,503 attended the track.

Results, replays and analysis

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