Willie Mullins' Gold Dancer downs stronger-fancied stablemate to set up potential Grade 1 tilt

Willie Mullins was surprised with the way the opener went and so, too, were punters.

Westport Cove was sent off favourite for the Grade 3 novice chase and looked to have matters under control as he cruised around the final bend under Paul Townend, but lesser fancied stablemate Gold Dancer collared him close home under Sean O'Keeffe to score at 7-1.

Mullins said: "I thought Westport Cove would win but Gold Dancer is by Doctor Dino, who is a horse we like, and Sean gave him a lovely cute ride. He left Paul [Townend] do all the donkey work, had one crack at him and it all worked out.

Willie Mullins: won the Grade 3 novice chase at Galway with Gold DancerCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"This was the first time Gold Dancer showed me on the racecourse what we thought and think of him at home. We'll go down the novice chase route with him now at the big festivals and hopefully he is good enough to go on to the Drinmore in December."

Genuine delight for Keane

Genuine Article gained compensation for a near-miss at last year's Galway festival when landing the mile handicap under Seamie Heffernan at 11-2. 

The winner made all and was never in danger, and trainer Gerry Keane said: "It has been a long time coming for this horse after we bought him, as we thought he'd have won before now and we thought he'd win here last year. He was a bit disappointing overall but the key to him is cut in the ground."

Genuine Article and Seamie Heffernan win at GalwayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Island joy for layers

A blanket finish to the Listed fillies' stakes went the way of the bookies as Tropical Island, the 40-1 outsider of the entire field, bravely hung on by a short-head from the rapidly finishing Princess Child.

It was a rare Irish raid for Richard Fahey and Luke McAteer ensured it paid off with an enterprising ride from the front.

Tropical Island caused a 40-1 upset at Galway under Luke McAteerCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

O'Brien siblings show the way

The brother-and-sister combo of Joseph and Ana O'Brien teamed up to take the 7f nursery with Which Wolf Wins.

The maroon silks of Ana O'Brien are becoming increasingly familiar and she unleashed a potentially top-class juvenile in the shape of A Boy Named Suzie at Killarney a few weeks ago.

"I know how disappointments are, so I take it as it comes," she replied, when asked how nervous she is as an owner compared to her riding days following the narrow success of Which Wolf Wins, who held on by half a length under Dylan Browne McMonagle.

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