Make A Challenge wins under Joe Doyle© Photo Healy Racing
Denis Hogan ran four horses in the concluding Caulfieldindustrial.com Handicap at Galway and his 10/1 chance Make A Challenge with Joe Doyle in the plate, just held on by a nose.
The gambled-on Beckwith Place (2/1 favourite) suffered a nightmare passage but once he got daylight in the final 100 yards he flew home but was just foiled. Moxy Mares came in third at 16/1 with War Hero (25/1) fourth.
Joe Doyle said: "Up until last Friday I hadn't had a ride on the track in about 18 months. I've been around, I've been to America and come back and have been back with Denis' team.
"He gave me my first winner seven years ago and to be back and riding a Galway Festival winner is unreal.
"I rode a lot of winners in England up the north and rode for some great people but it just wasn't for me, so I said I would take a break which I did and then I went to America and I loved that.
"I've come back and I'm as light as ever and very fit and we are back for more!
"I'm with Denis full-time; there is possibilities of me heading back to the States but I'm sure anytime you find me in the country you'll find me in Denis Hogan's yard."
Denis Hogan added: "That was super and it is a great story as Joe (Doyle) rode his first winner for me. He rode out his claim very fast in the UK and went away from the game for a year and a half.
"He has been riding out for me for a long time and I've been months asking him to get a licence and he wasn't ready for it. Six weeks ago he told me he would take out his license and I said 'drive on' and he had his first ride back on Friday night.
"He is very light, does well and is in my yard every day now. Pat Doyle (trainer) is his uncle and he is a neighbour of mine at home and is from a good racing background.
"I bought the horse (Make A Challenge) unraced at a Horses in Training Sale and he took time to come to hand and hadn't been going into stalls. He goes down before every other horse now and has to go in early and have a hood on.
"He is from a right good family and we had been riding him too forcefully."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
