THE horses for courses theory was underlined at Ballybrit on Tuesday evening when track specialist Dunum sprang back to life to land the featured Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap.

Winning at the track for the third time, the seven-year-old was ending a lean spell for Tyrone trainer Natalia Lupini whose last winner was Saint Brandon at Gowran Park in mid-April.

Dashed to the front by veteran jockey Seamie Heffernan, Dunam just lasted home in fending off the renewed challenge of the always prominent Bear Profit by a diminishing head.

“We have been working towards both this race and the Ahonoora on Sunday. He did well today and Seamie is a great asset for a small yard like ours. Having a jockey of his calibre is a massive help.

“The horse usually jumps out smart. Seamie wasn’t going to give away his position and the horse enjoyed himself. He loves the downhill run into the dip, and he battled well towards the line,” said Lupini.

The opening race on Tuesday’s card saw some reputations busted as the 22/1 outsider of the field, Sticktotheplan, finished strongly to give Kildare trainer Cormac Farrell his first Galway winner in the listed Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott got off the mark at the festival when King Of Kingsfield – a pacesetter for Brighterdaysahead in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last March – comfortably picked off market leader My Great Mate on the climb to the line in the Latin Quarter Beginners’ Chase.

Tipperary trainer Joe Murphy and jockey Gary Carrell combined to take the Colm Quinn BMW Fillies Handicap with 9/2 shot Pivotal Attack which benefited from the step up in trip.

The only favourite to oblige was the Jessica Harrington trained Collecting Coin (6/5) which shot clear on meeting the rising ground under Shane Foley in the Caulfield Industrial Maiden.

Summer Snow has been a revelation this summer and the five-year old made light of an 8lb penalty for winning at Down Royal last time out in taking the Caulfield Industrial Handicap for Wicklow trainer Peter Lawlor.

On an evening when the crowd of 13,306 was marginally down on last year’s corresponding figure of 13,680, there was a dead heat in a bunched finish to the concluding mile handicap with Heliogabalus (12/1) and Castleheat (17/2)  unable to be separated by the judge.

Pictured: Jockey Seamus Heffernan gives Dunum a kiss after the pair landed the featured Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap on the second day of the Galway Festival on Tuesday evening. Photo: Iain McDonald.