EYECATCHERS FROM A BUMPER GALWAY GALA

Karl Hedley has pinpointed his runners to follow from the big summer Festival jamboree

- Karl Hedley

The Galway Festival was the main centrepiece of the Irish summer and I have selected a few eye catchers from that meeting that it could well pay to follow going forward. The ground will now be starting to turn as we reach the twilight of summer and into the onset of early autumn. I have reviewed some of the races from the festival and have collected the thoughts and quotes from connections in relation to their runners so that you can take note going forward.

The opening contest of race week at Galway was a two-mile novice hurdle and the favourite Mystical Power won it. A Ballinrobe bumper winner on debut, the son of Galileo and Annie Power displayed a little inexperience in the jumping department but moved up from mid-division to get into contention two out and led over the last before going away to win readily. Seven lengths was the margin of victory over Samui.

Winning rider Mark Walsh said: "I jumped out to get a nice position and he was just running keen with me down to the second hurdle, so instead of fighting him I just pulled him back and dropped in behind horses.

"He settled fine but then got a little bit idle with me for a while, but when I got him in amongst horses again he came alive for me. I did not think we went over quick and I just wanted to get out going to the second last because I did not want to be caught in behind horses coming back. We got out in time and I was just taking my time, going down to the last, go in and pop it, and he went away nicely and did it very easy.

"There's plenty more to come from him because he's still very raw. The ground is more yielding, summer soft in places. It's actually not as bad as I thought it would be. It's beautiful ground but it has opened up now and the boys might think it's worse later on.