Dermot Weld at the double on opening Galway card

Trainer is usually on the mark at the Festival.

Dermot Weld made his customary flying start to the seven-day Galway Festival with a double on Monday evening.

Blue For You got the ball rolling as he took the opening Claregalwayhotel.ie Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden, giving the handler a remarkable 24th overall win in the seven-furlong heat and his 11th victory since 2000.

Blue For You (8-1) broke well from his inside draw, but soon lost his spot on the rail and was taken back by Oisin Orr.

Wembley, the 6-5 favourite, kicked for home in the straight but he was reeled in by Blue For You, who was delivered with a strong late run down the centre of the course to score by three-quarters of a length.

Dermot Weld struck in the first race of the Galway Festival
Dermot Weld struck in the first race of the Galway Festival (Brian Lawless/PA)

“We hoped he’d run well, but obviously others appeared to be in better form coming into the race,” said Kris Weld, assistant to his father.

“He had to improve from his first run, but we were optimistic he’d handle the ground when the rain came as his dam won in Cork the same day Harzand won his maiden and the ground was very soft.

“It did look unlikely in the dip and he is still a big, raw horse. He toughed it out well and has shown a good attitude and hopefully he’ll be up to Stakes level.

“Dad stayed away but might appear at some stage during the week, maybe tomorrow.”

Centroid (left) just prevailed in a tight finish
Centroid (left) just prevailed in a tight finish (PA)

Centroid, a Dansili half-brother to King George record breaker Enable, made it a double with a narrow verdict in the Easyfix Handicap.

Gavin Ryan went for home at the top of the straight and the 4-1 shot was all out to hold the fast-finishing Penny Out by a nose in a photo.

Kris Weld said: “He is a half-brother to Enable and obviously isn’t up to her class, but it was nice to get another win with him.

“It all happened a bit too soon, but he had to take the run (through on the inside) when he got it and he has held on well at the line. It’s Gavin’s first winner for us.”

Talking Tough holds Soaring Monarch to land the Claytonhotelgalway.ie Handicap at Galway
Talking Tough holds Soaring Monarch to land the Claytonhotelgalway.ie Handicap at Galway (PA)

Talking Tough (11-2) ran out a ready winner of the Claytonhotelgalway.ie Handicap.

Billy Lee, riding the horse for the first time, brought the Mick Mulvany-trained gelding to head long-time leader Kokura in the final furlong.

Talking Tough was soon clear and had enough in hand to keep the strong-finishing Soaring Monarch at bay by three-quarters of a length.

Mulvany said: “Billy said they went good and hard early on and when he hit the hill, the rising ground helped him. He did the same at Sligo when he finished well and that is the secret to him.

“We are giving him plenty of racing, but he is still a little ball of a horse and saves a little bit for himself all the time.

“We’ll have to think about running again later in the week with him.

“It’s a different feeling to have a winner tonight – normally there’d be an army load of us who’d come up for the week and would give it welly. Some are still coming (to Galway), but they’re not here and can’t really enjoy it.”

Royal Canford cross the line well clear to give jockey Billy Lee a quick double at Galway
Royal Canford cross the line well clear to give jockey Billy Lee a quick double at Galway (PA)

Lee completed a quickfire double when making all the running on Royal Canford (7-2) for trainer Willie McCreery in the Galmont.com & Galwaybayhotel.com Handicap Division One.

“She had a good run here (when second) last year over a mile and I knew I had speed because she won over six furlongs at the Curragh making all,” said Lee.

“I had a very good draw, I was keen to make use of it as I didn’t see a whole lot of pace in the race and I was able to dictate.

“She is a bit quirky and has the blinkers on, but when you have her on a going day she is hard to pass.”

Eastern Racer is entered again later in the week
Eastern Racer is entered again later in the week (PA)

Eastern Racer (22-1) overcame his wide draw to win division two from the fast-finishing Atlas.

Trainer Sean Byrne said: “He is a nice horse who wants soft ground and that’s his ninth win. He had already won one and was second for me and he is in again on Sunday.”

Flying Scotsman claimed the Eventus Handicap for Joseph O’Brien and Wayne Lordan and he could turn out at the track again on Tuesday.

Assistant trainer Brendan Powell said: “It wasn’t the greatest race in the world,but has got his head in front now. He is in tomorrow so we’ll leave that to Joseph and see what he is like (in the morning). He is back over a mile tomorrow.”

The closing Monami Construction (Q.R.) Maiden went to Mt Leinster (3-1) for Willie and Patrick Mullins.

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