Fly too strong for rivals in opening listed hurdle

Arctic Fly was given a well judged front-running ride by Sean O'Keeffe to claim the opening Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle at Galway today for Willie Mullins.

The champion trainer saddled four of the nine runners with Absurde going to post a 4/6 shot in the listed two-miler, but he failed to settle and could only finish sixth.

Arctic Fly got her own way in front and the 12/1 shot kicked for home after the second last to grab the advantage.

She was in control over the last and the Walk In The Park mare went on to record a four-and-a-half length win. Sherodan came through to win a bunch finish for the runner-up spot.

Arctic Fly was adding to a bumper win and her maiden hurdle success at Punchestown in June. She is out of a full-sister to Arctic Fire, a Grade 1 winner for the yard in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle in 2015.

Mullins praised the winning rider:-

"Sean was very good - the first furlongs were 13 and 12 seconds and then he just slowed it down to 14,15 and was slowing down the whole thing, with everything sitting in behind him. He kept enough in reserve to kick.

"She is a Walk In The Park filly and you can't get much better and I think she'll improve."

He added:- "It is a bit better luck for Brendan (O'Sullivan, owner) who I had to ring on the way up to tell him another filly he had, Fenomeno (due to run either Thursday or Friday), died this morning. She was having a rest in the paddock and dropped dead so we don't know why as yet."

O'Keeffe told RTE:- “In fairness to her she was very good. She made all in her maiden hurdle the last day, it wasn't an overly strong race but she seemed to enjoy it in front, so we said we'd try and do the same again.

“I knew Rachael, on another one of Willie's, was going to be very forward as she stays well. We went a nice gallop early on but I was able to fill her up when I wanted to.

“I winged the third last, the last down the back, and I said I'd get a good breather into her at the top of the hill.

“I kinda knew when we got into the dip that she was picking up for me and she winged the second last and was she finding all the way then in fairness to her.

“It's lovely ground, on the safe slow side of good. It's lovely jumping ground. It's always great to come here and get a winner at a big summer festival. I'm delighted.”

(Additional reporting by Tom Weekes)