Nurburgring motors home in Galway Hurdle

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Nurburgring motored clear in the closing stages to run out an impressive winner of the Guinness Galway Hurdle at Ballybrit this afternoon.

JJ Slevin got a perfect passage around on the 13/2 shot as he tracked front-runner Anotherway in the €270,000 feature event.

He edged to the front jumping the second last in the two-miler and soon asked his mount to go and win his race.

The Zoffany gelding had a couple of lengths to spare over the last and galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a stunning seven-length success over Ndaawi who got up late for second.

It was a fourth career success for Nurburgring and his third over timber.

The Bronsan Racing-owned gelding had been fourth in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and third in Grade 1 company at Punchestown last season.

Galway Hurdle No. 2⃣ for Joseph O'Brien 🏆

𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 skips clear around the home turn en route to a dominant performance in the feature @GuinnessIreland Galway Hurdle.@Galway_Races 🟢⚪️ pic.twitter.com/4Va7rk00rs

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 1, 2024

O'Brien said:- "When he ran well in Punchestown, we decided this was a good mid-summer target. He had a little holiday and then had a nice run over a shortish trip on the flat at Leopardstown to blow the cobwebs away.

"He came here with the four-year-olds allowance and really it was a fantastic ride from JJ. He got a good start, a lovely position and made a lovely move at the top of the hill. It was a very impressive performance.

"He was a fresh horse today and was dropping from a Grade 1 into a handicap, which is always a help. Today was the target so we won't rush him back but he will be going back into graded races somewhere."

Neil Sands, member of his family's Bronsan Racing syndicate, added:- "The colours are the colours of Termonfeckin and my dad Con won Louth championships in 1983 and '84 and they have been really lucky.

"We're only involved in racing for four or five years so a big thanks to Joseph O'Brien and his staff; there is a whole army of backroom people who never stand in the ring (winner's enclosure) or never get a day like this, but they are the backbone of the team and they make these things happen."

Slevin told RTE:- “It's a very special race to win, I'm just very lucky.

“The start was a bit of a shambles but I got where I wanted to be and Danny was parking up everywhere and doing his own thing.

“This lad travelled well and jumped well, I let him roll along before the second last and he's done it well.

“He's a little bit below those proper juvenile Grade 1 horses but did it well today.

“I've had a quiet enough summer up until now, hopefully this can get things going again.”

On riding the winner for his cousin Joseph he added:- “It's massive, the support he has given me over the years has been unreal and I don't like to think where I'd be without him to be honest.

“The horses have been flying, unfortunately we lost Sempo earlier in the day and that was a bit of a bitter blow but Joseph's horses are in great form.”