Joseph O’Brien picks up early winner at Galway

Joseph O’Brien’s All The Answers battled to a two-and-three-quarter-length success over Dermot Weld-trained odds-on favourite Silver Concorde in the Tote Maiden Hurdle that kicked-off the card on day three of the Galway Races.

Frank Berry, racing manager for owner JP McManus, said of the 100/30 victor: “That was lovely and Mark (Walsh) gave him a lovely ride.

“He was a little free early on but he got him settled and he jumped great. It was a nice performance.

“We’ll find another novice for him down the road. You’d have to be delighted with that performance today.

“He handled the ground. I don’t think he wants real deep ground.”

Meanwhile, in an incident-packed Tote European Breeders Fund Mares Handicap Hurdle, Our Kylie (9-1) managed to avoid a host of casualties to score for Brian Ellison, who has enjoyed plenty of success at the meeting over the years.

“She was lucky to keep out of trouble. She was on the inside but moved out and missed the trouble,” said Ellison.

“She’s a very very tough mare and jumps well. She won on the Flat last week and made hard work of it, but that’s the way she is.

“She has improved a lot and is a nice mare. I saw this race about a month ago and put her back on the Flat.

“She had won two from two over hurdles and I didn’t want her going up in the weights. This looked tailor-made but it’s still difficult and you need a bit of luck.”

He added: “For a 0-123 the prize-money is fantastic and you just don’t get that in England.

“We were a bit worried when the rain came last night as she’s better on better ground, but we were here so took our chance.”

In the third race of the day, Gavin Cromwell’s Plain Talking (10-1) held on to take the TheTote.com Handicap Hurdle.

Plain Talking hit the front just after the turn for home and went clear, before favourite Sea Light came from way off the pace to throw down a late challenge, ultimately failing by half a length.

“I’m delighted with that. She’s improving all the time,” said Cromwell. “It was a relief after she missed the last. I thought the other horse was going to get up on her outside.

“She’s tough and kept pulling it out. She’s genuine for a mare. She’s only four and has guts and a great heart.

“I thought I might have left her too long and was panicking that she wouldn’t be fit enough.

“I have her in the good handicap on Saturday. She was a few pounds out of the handicap but that will bring her in with a penalty. If she’s fit and sound she’ll run.

“She could be a nice one for the winter as she handles soft ground. After Saturday I might take my time with her as she’s still a novice.”

He added of stable star Jer’s Girl: “She came back in yesterday so we are looking forward to the winter.”

Nina Carberry again advertised her talents as she drove Tony Martin’s Sweet Company (10-1) to a narrow victory over the odds-on A Shin Kildare in the Tote (Q.R) Maiden.

Martin said: “Nina was all the help he needed there. It was a good performance and definitely the jockey was a big help.

“He has run over hurdles and took a while to come. As you can see from his antics there (in the winner’s enclosure) he’s still very nervy and leery. He’s still not there in his head yet.

“We’ll get him home and see where he goes in a fortnight. He could go back over hurdles.”