One of Ireland's most successful amateur jockeys, John Thomas McNamara, added the featured GPT Handicap to his CV at Galway today after guiding Charles Byrnes' Rockstown Boy to win the E65,000 feature event.
The 9/2 second favourite raced towards the rear of mid-division for much of the race before making steady progress to lead inside the final furlong for a length and a half win over Le Leopard.
The 72 members of the Morning Dew Syndicate were understandably delighted with their winning trainer, although Byrnes himself deflected any credit to the winning rider, stating 'I was happy with the jockey coming here and he gave the horse a fantastic ride.'
He added 'provided all is well with the horse, he will run in the HP Financial Services Hurdle on Wednesday.'
Trainer Kevin Prendergast was absent but his yard nonetheless recorded a double with his pint-sized Defi displaying great battling qualities to open their account in the two year old maiden.
Later in the day promising seven pound claiming apprentice Christy Geoghegan helped off-load Faasel's top weight in the 1m4f handicap, to complete a double for the Co Kildare handler.
Galway's most successful trainer, Dermot Weld, was an appropriate winner of the opening race of the Festival when his Zeroberto ran out an impressive winner of the GPT Sligo Novice Hurdle.
Afterwards 'D.K' mentioned 'we bought him in Germany last October and he has really progressed since then. He will run again in a Flat handicap either on Thursday or Saturday. Jim (Culloty) gave him an excellent ride and switched him off early in the race.'
Athlumney Lad's (5/1 to 8/1) win in the two mile handicap hurdle left bookmakers with a little extra in their satchels.
Winning trainer Noel Meade later reported that the horse's regular Flat jockey Mick Kinane 'had a few words with Shay Barry [today's rider] and gave him a few instructions. With a man like him giving instructions it makes my job a lot easier!' A Flat handicap on Friday is next on the winner's agenda.
Aidan O'Brien trained winners rarely triumph at odds of 12/1 but that was the SP of his bumper winner, King Of Spades, who provided rider MV Magnier with his first Galway winner.
