Ambition strikes for Martin

Tony Martin saddled his first winner at the Galway Festival this week when Another Ambition ultimately came home a facile winner of the Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase after an incident-packed two and three quarter miles.

The race lived up to it's race title as the 20-runner field sprinted to the first fence, with Got Attitude setting a strong pace for the first circuit before Aberdale took over at halfway.

Aberdale crashed out at the fifth last (Ken Whelan limped back into the jockeys room) leaving Got Attitude back in front. However he then jumped badly left at the second last and slipped up a few strides later. Inbetween the 7/2 favourite Serve Time fell when chasing the leaders at the third last.

All this mayhem left Sea Stallion in front over the last but the writing was soon on the wall as Another Ambition loomed alongside under Davy Condon.

The 14/1 chance cruised to the front in the straight with Condon hardly moving a muscle, and had four and a half lengths to spare at the line over Sea Stallion (16/1). Piano Star (33/1) was 13 lengths further adrift in third, with Paradis De Thaix (10/1) fourth.

Martin said, “With a little ease in the ground there was always going to be a day in him, and touch wood it was today. Noel O'Brien (handicapper) will probably give him a bit of a hit after this.”

Alan Magee