Townend times it well on Bridgequarter Bridgequarter Girl came with a well-timed run, under Paul Townend, to claim the Galway City Publicans Handicap Hurdle at Ballybrit. The Black Russian made a bold bid from the front as he sought a hat-trick of wins but he had to give way in the closing stages to the John Kiely-trained mare. Townend buried his mount in mid-division in the early stages before making ground up going to the second last. The 8/1 winner was asked to chase the front-runner turning for home and jumped into the lead at the last. She stayed on well in the closing stages to post a length-and-three-quarters verdict as The Black Russian held on for the runner-up spot from Spot The Pro in the two-mile event. Green Thirty Two was sent off the 6/1 favourite (from 9/2) having attracted support into as short as 11/4 before racing but faded two out and could only finish eleventh. Bridgequarter Girl had run well to finish third on her handicap debut at Cork last month having taken a Tramore maiden hurdle a week previously. “I was a little bit disappointed with her at Cork when she didn't get the luck of the race but she had previously won at Tramore on a track that wouldn't have suited her,” said Kiely. “She's a big galloping mare and she liked it around here. Being by Presenting she won't be around over the winter.” (Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
