'He's moved up a few places in our novices' - 21-length winner impresses Mullins

Wednesday: Galway

Willie Mullins said the pecking order of his novice hurdlers this season would have to be revisited after the long-absent Champ Kiely blitzed his rivals by 21 lengths in the opening 2m5f maiden hurdle.

Carrying the Appreciate It colours of Michael Masterson, who was recording a first Galway festival winner as an owner, the 9-4 shot recorded the biggest winning margin at this meeting since the same stable's Alelchi Inois bolted up by 32 lengths in a 2016 conditions chase.

Champ Kiely, partnered to victory by Paul Townend, hadn't been seen since impressing on his only other start under rules in a Limerick bumper 426 days ago.

Useful Flat performer Dawn Rising, who was making his first start for Joseph O'Brien and JP McManus after switching from Ballydoyle, was sent off the 2-1 favourite to make a winning hurdles debut, but he couldn't live with the winner in third.

Champ Kiely and Paul Townend winning the 2m5f maiden hurdle for owner Michael Masterson. Galway Festival.Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post27.07.2022Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Mullins said: "I was hoping he'd win but didn't think he'd do anything like that. That looked very good – he's moved up a few places in our novice hurdlers for this season. He looks a real jumping sort.

"I know he is only starting his novice hurdle career, but I'm already looking forward to him going over fences.

"I think there was a lot of confidence behind the favourite, so to come out and beat a 102-rated Flat horse like that was very good."

Mullins added: "I'll have a chat with Michael and go through all the rest of the horses for the year before making a plan, but he looks a smart type."

Road runs riot for in-form team

A good start to the card for the champion jockey and trainer got even better 30 minutes later when Rock Road ran out a ready winner of the 2m6½f Tote Handicap Hurdle at 4-1.

It continued a fruitful summer campaign for the ten-year-old, owned by the Bowes Lodge Stables Partnership, after winning the Mayo National at Ballinrobe at the end of May.

Rock Road (red and yellow silks) on his way to taking advantage of a lower hurdles mark to score at the Galway festivalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Mullins said: "That was another nice surprise in how he did it. You were hoping that if he could bring his chase form to hurdles he could go close, but you don't expect them to do that around Galway.

"It's great for [owner] Simon Wilson, who couldn't be over here with Covid and everything for the last while. He's been promising me a late night in the Lord Bagenal Inn for a long time – now we're going to get it."

Mullins brought up a treble on the card when Dads Lad caused a 28-1 upset under Ruth Dudfield in the 1m4f Tote Qualified Riders Maiden.

It was a second Galway festival winner in the career of Dudfield, who landed a bumper at the 2019 meeting on Rocket Lad.

Mullins said: "It's a fantastic day for the Whitegrass Racing Syndicate and Ruth. Ruth has been with us for a couple of years and gets on great with this horse at home.

Dads Lad: provided memorable victory for the Whitegrass Racing SyndicateCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"I was afraid they would get swallowed up on the hill but she kept nudging the horse's nose out to keep him in a position."

Asked if the performance surprised him, Mullins said: "It surprised me to see him entered for the race. I think Patrick had him put in for a day out for the syndicate! This horse disappointed me early on but is improving all the time."

Real Madrid star gets on the scoresheet at Galway

Some international flare was added to the day-three card when progressive colt Sir Antonino, notably owned by Real Madrid and Spanish football star Alvaro Odriozola, struck the 1m½f three-year-old handicap for Joseph O'Brien.

Odriozola, a keen racing follower, initially made contact with the O'Brien family through Instagram and has developed a friendship with the multiple Classic-winning trainer. The 26-year-old, who has recently been on loan at Bayern Munich and Fiorentina, even played a five-a-side game at Fethard Town Park on a visit to Ireland last month.

Joseph O'Brien on Sir Antonino: 'I think he enjoys a little bit of juice in the ground, and I'd imagine he'll stay further'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

O'Brien said: "I got to know Alvaro through social media, we have been in touch for a couple of years and he had horses in Spain previously. He comes over when he gets some time off, stays with us for a couple of days and we've had horses for a few years.

"He enjoys seeing his horses and the stallions in Ireland, we're good friends and he has a couple of two years olds in training also."

O'Brien added "It took Sir Antonino a couple of runs to get the hang of things and Declan [McDonogh] was strong on him. I think he enjoys a little bit of juice in the ground, and I'd imagine he'll stay further."

Outback digs deep for Deacon

Peter Fahey often emerges with a winner from Ballybrit's summer festival and he got on the scoresheet for 2022 thanks to a game display from the plucky Outback Flyer.

Winning rider Kevin Sexton was at his strongest to see off the challenge of Tullypole Annie in the 2m½f Tote Mares Handicap Hurdle.

Delighted owner-breeder Jonathan Deacon said: "This is my first time ever at the Galway festival so I'm very honoured to have a winner here.

"We always believed in her. We've had the family for four generations and look forward to breeding from her eventually."

Attendance on day three of the festival came to 16,073, down from 16,634 for the last comparable Plate meeting in 2019.

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