Rainbows takes the pot of gold

Galway report and previewJust 24 hours after filling the runner-up spot in the Plate, jockey Niall Madden received perfect compensation when the 33 to 1 outsider More Rainbows galloped to the Guinness Galway Hurdle pot of gold yesterday.

But if 19-year-old Madden's grin was broad as More Rainbows fought home a length clear of Tiger Cry, with Callow Lake in third, there were even more blinding smiles coming from the direction of the betting ring.

Yesterday's feature was the biggest betting race ever in Ireland with almost 1 million wagered with the bookmakers alone. Most of that 957,344 was on Cloone River who started the hottest favourite in years to win the race back to back but who dramatically fell at the third last when going noticeably well.

"He was flying," said a downcast trainer Paul Nolan afterwards. "He is very sore after the fall. In fact he looks like a crashed car." The tumble also changed the complexion of the race completely and it was Noel Meade, the last trainer to win the Galway Hurdle in successive years with Pinch Hitter in 1982-83, who had the numbers to take advantage.

Definate Spectacle was the shortest priced of Meade's four runners but he fell at the second last and suddenly it was More Rainbows who had the race in safe-keeping. Tiger Cry stayed on resolutely but Madden's move after the second last was decisive.

"I was delighted with Ursumman's run in the Plate but this tops the lot!" exclaimed Madden who turned professional only after being crowned champion amateur last April. "I thought I had a chance going out and when he winged the second last I knew we'd win."

For Meade it sealed a love-affair with the race that had been tested since Pinch Hitter's double 22 years previously. Runner-up placings with Fane Ranger (1986), Natural Ability ('92) and Mubadir ('93) were frustratingly close but More Rainbows had the champion trainer reminiscing.

"I still say Pinch Hitter's first win was the best day of my life. I'll never forget it. The celebrations went on for a year," he said. "I was trying to watch all four which is practically impossible but Definate Spectacle looked to be going very well. I couldn't believe it when the other fellah kicked on. We decided going out to change the tactics a bit and Niall was very positive on him." Afterwards Tiger Cry's jockey Philip Carberry got a two-day ban for his use of the whip.

It had been a much different start to the day for the Cloone River team of Paul Nolan and John Cullen as Dix Villez made a winning debut over fences in the Beginners Chase.

"He won't see a hurdle again. He could go to Tralee or wait for Listowel," said Nolan and a similar itinerary is on the cards for Tony McCoy's first winner of the festival Monjoyau who destroyed the opposition in the novice chase. "He has got ability but he doesn't always produce it," said trainer Edward O'Grady whose application of blinkers for the first time worked dramatically.

The ex-Mark Johnston trained Helensburgh won his fourth race from six starts for Pat Hughes when justifying warm favouritism in the mile and a half handicap.

However the favourite in the fillies handicap, Szewinska, had a distant six length view of Society Hostess who was Pat Smullen's first winner of the week.

"If the handicapper is going to move her up, I better move up too and she will go for the Listed Fairy Bridge Stakes at Tipperary in two weeks time," said Dermot Weld.

That was Weld's fifth winner of the week and the topweight King Of Tory was made market leader to make it six in the mile handicap. However, he was never going and it was Szewinska's stable companion Akram who emerged best. "I thought he was over rated at 87 which just shows what a handicapper I am!" said John Oxx.

Noel Meade's Naples trotted up in the bumper to provide Nina Carberry with a third win this week.