Mystical City gives Casey memorable hurdle success

AN unprecedented 12 English based jockeys, including three champions, rode in yesterday's Guinness Galway Hurdle but the race was won by a 3lb claimer from Waterford.

Twenty to one chance Mystical City, trained by former champion amateur rider Willie Mullins and ridden by the reigning junior champion, David Casey, stayed on too well for the well backed Space Trucker (Norman Williamson) and Just Little.

There was an inquiry not involving the winner, but Space Trucker retained the £9,000 second prize as the stewards deemed that whatever contact occurred between the second and third rounding the final bend did not affect the placings.

Mystical City was a double handful for 20 year old Casey as she rose to the penultimate flight full of running. But Space Trucker just headed her after landing over the last and for a stride looked set to give Jessica Harrington her second Galway Hurdle.

Nothing daunted, Mystical City battled back and shot clear to win by two and a half lengths with the Aidan O'Brien trained Just Little only a neck adrift.

One could not fancy the winner on her previous running at Killarney in May when she finished a distance behind both Space Trucker and Just Little. But Willie Mullins, who was not at that meeting, said his representative told him the mare got over excited in the paddock.

"She ran badly and that disappointed us. But I gave her a break and as she was only six weeks in I was fighting against time to get her ready for Galway. She worked well last Thursday and I knew I had her back to her best," explained the winning trainer.

Casey's 3lb claim was useful but his mount won very, very easily. Last year Mull ins would have liked him to have claimed his maximum 7lb on Mystical City but the rule allowing conditional riders to claim in big National Hunt handicaps other that Grade one events was not then in operation and Tony McCoy was given the ride. She finished seventh.

"It was thanks to Willie that new rule was changed last October," said Casey who now lives in Wexford. "I was in front rounding the last bend until the straight. She landed just ahead but was passed by Space Trucker. But she really flew again for me.

Mullins said. "I thought they should be allowed to compete in all handicaps except Grade One races, and David's 3lb claim was a help to Mystical City today. Full marks to the Irish National Hunt Committee for agreeing to allow them greater scope when they took a close look at the rules last October."

Mystical City, the winner of the Grade Two Biscuit Cognac Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse in April, was bought at Goffs for 4,700 guineas 18 months ago and is owned by the nine strong Phantom Syndicate, two of whose members are from Galway.

She will run on the Flat and over hurdles at Tralee and Listowel. The favourite, Royal Albert, lost his hind legs on the bend after the fourth flight and the well backed Khayrawani, who finished fourth, made the running.

Cullenstown Lady, unlucky to slip up in the lead at Tipperary, amply compensated when staying on stoutly to win the three miles St James's Gate Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Richard Dunwoody.

The Martin Pipe trained Glengarrif Girl challenged from the second last but there was no denying the big grey mare who held on by three parts of a length the duo finishing 15 lengths clear of their rivals.

"This is the fourth time she has come here and she has never been out of the money," said trainer Pat Hughes, whose Terzia won this event three years ago. Cullenstown Lady is in tomorrow's Dawn Milk Handicap Hurdle but is not certain to run.

Michael Kinane, who rode at Goodwood on Wednesday, returned to partner Stylish Allure the convincing winner of the Guinness Handicap. The Moyglare Stud colt was Dermot Weld's eighth winner to date.

Stroll Home, the first horse to win two races at this festival, once again made all the running to capture the Guinness Novice Chase and was again ridden by Paul Carberry.

Kaldan Khan and Charlie Swan looked dangerous when closing to a length at the elbow but he was not going to catch the Jim Mangan trained winner who held on by three parts of a length. There should be some more chases in this good ground summer horse.

Clonagam was always travelling for Charlie Swan in the Harp Lager Novice Hurdle which he won readily from Tarthooth. Aidan O'Brien thinks well of this lightly raced timber topper. "He has pace and he stays, said the trainer who has now saddled four winners at the meeting including Plate hero Life Of A Lord.