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Planchart wins for Andrew Slattery at Galway

Total Demolition ridden by Conor Hoban wins the Hop House 13 Handicap at the Galway Festival
Image: Total Demolition ridden by Conor Hoban wins the Hop House 13 Handicap.

The rest of the news from the fourth day of the Galway Festival, where Planchart struck for the in-form Andrew Slattery.

Andrew Slattery secured his second big-race win of the week at the Galway Festival as Planchart came out on top in the Arthur Guinness EBF Corrib Fillies Stakes.

Slattery sent out Creggs Pipes to win the valuable BMW Mile on Tuesday and her stablemate duly added Listed glory to the money they already had in the bank.

Favourite Rayisa set the early pace but he was tracked by Declan McDonogh aboard the winner, who was sent off a 100/30 chance.

Although Rayisa did not go down without a fight, Planchart was able to get on top inside the final furlong, running on well to score by half a length in the seven-furlong heat.

Planchart had previously finished fifth in the Naas Oaks Trial and Slattery felt she probably should have won that event, too.

He said: "I think if they re-ran the race in Naas the last day she'd win and (jockey) Billy Lee thinks the same way.

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"That's as short as she wants to go today and she won't run over seven furlongs again. She's a Listed winner now, and that's the main thing for Mr Garvey.

"Every time she runs, she finishes well and we probably overfaced her a few times last year.

"She works with Creggs Pipes at home and sits in behind which suits her.

"We have won a Listed race and a Premier Handicap now so it's been some week. I've a nice bunch of horses this year. We were unable to sell a few in the breeze-up sales which left us with a few nice ones."

A stalls malfunction meant the Hop House 13 Handicap had to get under way with a flag start, but that did not stop Total Demolition producing a power-packed finish to score.

The 10/1 chance was well-beaten into 10th in a race at the meeting on Wednesday, and looked to have plenty to do under Conor Hoban turning in.

At that point Marshall Jennings appeared to have given his rivals the slip from the front, but Total Demolition charged home to score by three-quarters of a length.

Trainer John Larkin said: "I laughed when the stalls broke as he's like an old woman out of them. He was drawn 18 of 18 yesterday and was slowly away so his race was over before it even started.

"This was the race I really wanted to go for, but he was 19 in the ballot and I couldn't believe he got in. He's won three now this year which is great. He could run again here on Saturday."

Xsquared powered up the home straight to land the Guinness Harp Novice Chase.

Hurricane Ben looked to have the race in control when in a clear lead after the last, while Xsquared was well back in fourth.

However, Kevin Sexton got a real tune out of Peter Fahey's 4/1 chance and he breezed past the leader to win by six lengths.

Fahey said: "We only got him in January and he's been fantastic and is so tough. Kevin said we could step him up in trip, and that would give him more options as well. He could come back here for a Graded race later in the year if the ground is suitable.

"This is what it's all about, winning here at the Festival."

Scamall Dubh caused a 66-1 shock in the opening Guinness Dublin Porter Beginners' Chase, but winning rider Mark Enright felt Grand National-winning trainer Mouse Morris had pulled off a smart bit of placing.

He said: "Mouse genuinely fancied him and his son Jamie rides him out at home and also fancied him. He travelled well all the way, maybe a bit too well, and he missed the last a bit but he galloped all the way up the run-in. He's very game.

"It's lovely to get a winner here as it's a big stage and a lot of us don't get many chances at the likes of Cheltenham or Aintree."

Bryan Cooper was taken to hospital with suspected chest and abdominal injuries when unseated from Tiger Roll in the race won by Xsquared, meaning Ruby Walsh took his place on market leader Bel Sas in the Guinness Novice Hurdle.

Walsh made the most of the opportunity, as the Giggisntwon House Stud-owned 6/4 favourite got home by two and three-quarter lengths from Champagne Harmony.

Trainer Willie Mullins said: "I'm very happy with him. Coming back in trip he jumped well and the way he jumped he could probably come back further in trip.

"He's really awesome jumping and is a pure natural. I'll look for novice hurdles for him in the summer/autumn.

"I'm not sure he wants real heavy ground and we'll do what we can while the ground is nice.

"He disappointed in bumpers and made hard work of winning one, but hurdles have transformed him and he looks a much better horse over hurdles. We'll know more about him when we up him in grade."

Tom Mullins was on the mark as his Tara Dylan continued on an upward curve in the Guinness FOALS Handicap.

The 7/1 winner was following up her success at Leopardstown last week, under a 5lb penalty.

"We took a bit of a chance coming here, but she seemed to come out of her last race well," said Mullins.

"She was 6lb well in today as she got 11lb for winning at Leopardstown so that swayed me to come here."

He added: "She overcame a bad draw and Gary (Carroll) was brilliant on her. He's a jockey that has really come of age. He took his time and knew the filly he had underneath him.

"Hopefully she'll keep progressing. She might come back here in September, but there are plenty of fillies' race for her."

The concluding Guinness West Indies Porter Flat Race went the way of the John Neilan-trained 50/1 chance Poormans Hill.

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