Saltonstall, near side, pips Njord© Photo Healy Racing
Ado McGuinness' Saltonstall (11/1) made it back to back Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap's at the Galway Festival with a last-gasp success.
He thundered home under Gavin Ryan to catch Njord on the line but it took a lengthy look at the photo, while the odds on a dead heat tumbled, to determine that he had got up by a nose.
Njord had kicked off the bend and was ridden a furlong out by Tom Madden as the pair chased the first prize of 44,250 euro.
They held the lead by a couple of lengths with 100 yards to go, however, Saltonstall, engaged top gear and stormed home to force the photo.
Jessica Harrington saddled the second (Njord at 11/1), third (Onlyhuman at 18/1) and fourth (Tauran Shaman the 9/2 favourite) home.
"I can’t believe that we’ve done it back to back and it’s more of a surprise than last year,” said Ado McGuinness.
“It was all so close — I was up in the top-tier of the stand and didn’t know (if he'd won).
“The plan was to drop in and Gavin gave him a wonderful ride. It was serious stuff from him — ballsy.
“I was worried his five pounds would be gone before this race came around, but he’s a very very good jockey and I’m thrilled to bits.
“We worked the horse last week and he worked bad, so we were wondering would we be running him at all.
“The other horse, Current Option worked all over him, but all the checks we did on him came back fine.
“He’s had days at the beach since, and a full day in the field. He had a tendency to bleed so we have to be very careful with him.
“Bart O’Sullivan led him in last year, and he’s passed away since, so he’s definitely looking down on us today, and his son James is still involved.”
Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy
