-
-
Author: John McIntyre
~ 2 minutes read
IT was a St Stephen’s Day of mixed fortunes for Galway horse racing connections in Ireland and cross-channel.
Local jockey Danny Gilligan continued his meteoric rise through the ranks with a first ever graded win at Leopardstown, but there was big-race agony for the well-known Earls family from Killimordaly at Aintree.
17-year-old Gilligan from Craughwell who has already enjoyed a string of major successes in the Galway Plate (Ash Tree Meadow), the Troytown Handicap Chase (Coko Beach) and the Listed Lartigue Hurdle (Samui) on his debut season over jumps, again underlined his big-race temperament on Monday.
Partnering the well-backed 7/2 shot Kala Conti in the Grade Two Mercedez-Benz Juvenile Hurdle on the card, Gilligan always had the Gordon Elliott trained filly in a prominent position and had enough in reserve to withstand a series of challengers up the home straight.
Kala Conti, better off at the weights, was gaining revenge on her recent Fairyhouse Winter Festival conqueror Nurburgring which had to settle for third spot, with the Willie Mullins trained French recruit Kargese dividing the pair.
Gilligan was naturally delighted to chalk up a Grade Two victory. “It’s brilliant to get the opportunities in these races and I can’t thank Gordon {Elliott} and the owners enough.
“I got a nice run around and I felt in control everywhere. The only worry I had was at the last, she kind of stretched for it and was lucky to find a leg at the back of the hurdle.
“I was getting 7lb off the horse that beat her the last day {Nurburgring}, which was a big help, and I was quietly confident coming here today.”
His father Paul and older brother Jack would also have left the Dublin track in positive mood on Monday after Kings Hill made a mockery of his 50/1 odds for the trainer/jockey combination in an above-average looking maiden hurdle, the first race of the four-day Leopardstown Christmas Festival.
Pictured: Galway jockey Danny Gilligan and Kala Conti at full stretch clearing the final obstacle on their way to winning the Grade Two Mercedes-Benz Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on Monday.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune:
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
More like this:
60 businesses from South Galway and North Clare recognised for sustainable tourism
60 businesses from across South Galway and North Clare have been recognised for their participati...
Roscommon/Galway Deputy Claire Kerrane tells Dáil it’s ‘hard to fathom’ the rising cost of fuel
Roscommon/Galway TD Claire Kerrane has told the Dáil it is very ‘hard to fathom’ the ...
Vandalism attack carried out on Ballinfoyle Park Playground
A vandalism attack has extensively damaged Ballinfoyle Park Playground. The attack was carried ou...
€169,000 funding boost announced for community development in Galway City and County
A combined approximate funding boost of €169,000 in additional staff resource funding has been al...
Businesses in Connemara asked to have their say on housing, roads and planning
Businesses in Connemara are being urged to have their say on issues such as housing, roads and pl...
United finally end wretched run of losses to The Hoops
Shamrock Rovers 1 Galway United 1 IT says it all when you are coming away from the Tallaght...
Connacht’s bonus point win keeps destiny in own hands
Dragons 27 Connacht 34 By JOHN FALLON CONNACHT, having done all that was required of the...
GAA meets dance in Theatre Fest show
GAA meets modern dance in a dance show that’s being staged this weekend as part of Galway Theatre...
An Bord Pleanála critical of design and layout of 170-unit Castlegar scheme
An Bord Pleanála has refused permission for a 170-home development planned for the Castlegar area...