Fox swamps his rivals

THE Co Tipperary yard of Joe Murphy plundered the big race on the opening evening of the Galway Summer Festival when 16/1 chance Swamp Fox emerged a smooth winner of the Connacht Hotel Handicap at Ballybrit on Monday.

Having broken its maiden status in Ballinrobe the previous week, the joint bottom weight followed up that success in giving jockey, 7lbs claimer Barry Browne, the biggest win of his career so far in this €80,000 contest for amateur riders.

With plenty to do at the top of the hill, Swamp Fox gradually began to creep into contention and steadily improved from mid-division to move into a threatening third at the two-furlong pole.

Benkei and Ashbury Boss led the field into the dip, but nothing was travelling better than Swamp Fox which swept by the leaders around the home turn and never looked in danger of being caught despite runner up Ted Veale doing his best work at the finish.

Two and a quarter lengths was the victory margin and successful trainer Murphy was delighted afterwards. “Having a winner at Galway makes life worth living. I always though this horse could win a big race.

“I gave Barry two pieces of instruction which I very seldom give a jockey – I said if you can get out get up there and, if not, take your time. He’s a lovely horse to have and one thing about him, I knew he would finish,” added Murphy.

Champion National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins again kicked off the festival in style when landing the opening Radisson Hotel & Galway Bay Hotel Novice Hurdle for the third year running with hot favourite Muthaza.

Not many horses are sent off at the prohibitive odds of 1/6 in Galway, but the potentially smart French import readily accounted for his modest rivals in completing a hurdling hat-trick since his arrival in Ireland.

In a contest restricted to four-year-olds, there was the prospect that the front-running Cable, trained locally by Steve Mahon, had slipped the field down the back straight, but winning jockey Ruby Walsh didn’t betray any concern and the market leader made rapid progress down the hill and had six and a half lengths to spare at the line.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.