Clondaw Warrior and Ruby Walsh (right grey silks) © Photo Healy Racing
Ruby Walsh was a popular man among family and friends after landing his first Guinness Galway Hurdle on Clondaw Warrior in a thrilling finish at Ballybrit today.
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding secured the €300,000 contest for the Act D Wagg Syndicate, which includes the winning rider's wife Gillian.
Other members include David Casey's wife Aine, and friends Tamso Doyle Cox and Aisling Gannon.
Having been shuffled back to the rear early on the well-backed 9/2 favourite (8/1 this morning) he had only a handful of runners behind with a circuit to run.
Walsh made good ground on the inner going to the second last and then switched his mount out turning for home.
The Overbury gelding challenged at the last and stuck on gamely to get to the lead on the run-in.
He then had to repel the late lunge of Hidden Cyclone however, to secure a half length victory in the two mile feature. Princely Conn who got into the race as first reserve, was just three-parts-of-a-length further back in third having been collared on the run-in after kicking for home on the bend.
“It was some job to get him out of where he was. Another Houdini job by Ruby,” said Mullins.
“When I saw him with four behind passing the winning post I thought it would take more than a miracle to get out of that position.
“He bided his time and waited and waited. He obviously got there and he was brilliant from the last.
“When you have a Galway horse they can come back year after year. When they have form up that hill.
“They've had such fun with this horse including the likes of Royal Ascot. He's a fantastic syndicate horse — a dream horse.
“We'll probably go back on the Flat with him. I don't think there is another hurdle race with the prize-money to encourage us.
“He's rated 108 so that's too much for the Ebor and he could go for the Londsdale. We also have to possibility of the American St Leger in Chicago. We have the money to go now!
“I'd imagine he'd have to improve another 7lb to think about the Melbourne Cup, that might be a bit too far.
“If he did I'd imagine that would be a real dream. I don't think so but we'll see.”
Mullins last won the race in 1996 with Mystical City and he added:- “David (Casey) rode her for me and his wife has a share in this horse.”
Walsh added:- “You have to ride the race from where you are, and I got a great run down the hill.
“He kicked four or five hurdles out of the ground, and if it was a flat race he would have won a lot easier. He’s probably gone as high as he can over hurdles.
“I’ve gone close in this race a few times without winning, and it’s great to win it especially for all the girls (winning Act D Wagg Syndicate).
“Gillian led me up in a race here in about 1997.”
Tom Mullins was pleased with the run of the third placed Princely Conn:-
"I'm delighted with the run. We've been trying to turn him into a winter horse the last few years but that's his ground."
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
