Review GALWAY 30TH JUL

Paddy Mullins completed a remarkable double within the space of 17 days when saddling Nearly A Moose to take the Hewlett-Packard Galway Plate under a fine ride by Robert Power.

Mullins (84), who gained his first classic victory earlier this month with Vintage Tipple in the Oaks, was enjoying his third Plate win having also been successful with Boro Quarter ('86) and The Gooser ('92).

Power gave a polished performance in his finest hour to-date, producing the seven-year-old to challenge on the downhill run to the final two fences in the dip.

Nearly A Moose (25/1 but paid 35.60 on the Tote) and the heavily-backed 100/30 favourite Back On Top drew clear after the last.

However Mullins' charge got on top halfway up the long run-in to score by four lengths from the staying on Kadoun, with Glynn Dingle also finished strongly a further 1/2L adrift in third.

'I thought his inexperience would be his downfall but knew he had the ability,' said Mullins, while Power commented, 'I have never jumped and traveled as well. He missed one down the back but soon recovered.'

The Plate was an all-time betting record for a single race with the Tote as E344,379 was turned over, while other shock wins for Doonaree and Silver Spray resulted in a jackpot pool rollover of E80,638.

Direct Bearing warmed up for the Guinness Galway Hurdle by making all under Barry Geraghty to land the odds in the opening two miles conditions hurdle.

'Jim Culloty rides him tomorrow and he will wear blinkers. They will give him a bit of confidence, and helps his concentration in a competitive race,' said Dermot Weld.

Weld later doubled up when Mandhoor justified 5/4 favouritism in the mile maiden, with Pat Smullen switching to Sheikh Hamdan's gelding after Hazelhatch (didn't eat up) was taken out.

Smullen was hard at work approaching the home turn, but his mount responded gamely to the relief of the majority in the packed grandstand to touch off Alexander Anapolis by a neck.

'That was a good positive ride by Pat. This horse is no superstar, and he'll go for a handicap,' said the Rosewell House trainer.

Smullen was also recording a double on the afternoon having earlier taken the mile and a half maiden on High Priestess, leading before the straight to beat Anarchy by four and a half lengths.

Jaguar Claw was ridden up with the pace throughout by Ruby Walsh in the three miles handicap hurdle, and eased clear after two out for a convincing six lengths verdict.

'He's been going really well at home, and doesn't want the ground either too fast or too heavy. He will go back over fences in time,' said trainer Frances Crowley.

A recent lazer operation for a wind problem appears to have worked the oracle on Doonaree, who swept to the front over a furlong out for Fran Berry to land the mile and half handicap.

'He was nearly brought down when clipping heels early on at the Curragh last time, and he'll probably run again in a handicap hurdle here on Sunday,' said trainer Tom Hogan.

Billy Lee, 17, gave Silver Spray (20/1, paid 41/1 on the Tote) a patient ride in the mile handicap to record his tenth career winner, leading inside the final furlong to beat Potsdam by three and a half lengths.

The six-year-old gelding was providing Tipperary handler Malachy Ryan with his first Festival success after 30 years training.

The market did prove a good guide in the concluding seven furlongs handicap, with Animal Lover (7/1-11/2) sprinting clear to beat well-backed 7/4 fav Nassau Royale by 3 1/2L.

The crowd of 29,224 was up 2,463 on last year, while a record 'Plate day' Tote aggregate of E1,477,108 was E217,481 more than 2002.

Alan Magee