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Galway Festival final day: Zanahiyr back to winning ways
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sun 3 Aug 2025
Zanahiyr made a welcome return to the winning ways in the Kinlay Hostel Chase on the final day of the Galway Festival.
Third in the 2023 Champion Hurdle, Gordon Elliott’s one-time Triumph Hurdle favourite was third in the Galway Plate last year and was making his second appearance of the week at the Ballybrit track after finishing seventh and well held in this year’s feature chase.
Sent off 9-4 in the hands of Jack Kennedy, this was far from an easy assignment with Willie Mullins’ Blood Diamond the odds-on favourite, but the eight-year-old rolled back the years to strike for the first time since shedding his maiden status over fences in February 2024.
Kennedy said: “Delighted for the horse. He’s been a great horse, placed in Champion Hurdles and it’s nice for him to get his head in front today.
“I was happy enough to tip away in front, I didn’t go mad, and it worked out well.
“He was brilliant at the last two in the dip and is better when you are going on with him and not getting in too tight.
“It’s been a great week.”
Princess Child gains reward
Princess Child, who has been campaigned exclusively in Listed and Group races for over a year, dropped down in grade to land the valuable Irish Stallion Farms EBF Ahonoora Handicap.
The consistent four-year-old filly had finished second in a Listed event at the track on Thursday but was able to land her first win since racing in France as a juvenile.
Since joining Joseph O’Brien she was more than paid her way, finishing second in four Listed races.
However, this was the first time her handler had run her in a handicap since her first start for new connections in June 2024 and she was sent off 5-1 to gain a first win in Ireland.
Gleneagle Bay made a bold bid for home but Dylan Browne McMonagle brought Princess Child with a powerful run and she went on to win by a length and a quarter with Colm Quinn Mile winner Dunum back in third.
“She had a good run here the last day. She was very unlucky and just didn’t get the rub of the green until the straight,” said the winning rider.
“She’s had a couple of days to freshen up again and was bouncing around the parade ring and felt great going to post.
“The pace was good and even for me to aim at, and she quickened up good to win well. She seemed to get through the ground well.
“You need plenty of luck when you are drawn in there (stall six) but I definitely had a willing partner.
“She’s a very consistent filly and seems to grow a leg on this ground. She likes it around here and always runs a good race here. Hopefully she can progress into stakes company again and get her head in front.”
Harvey joy on Ballystone
Elsewhere John McConnell’s Ballystone kept on well to win in the Kenny Galway Peugeot Handicap Hurdle.
It was a dream success for his jockey Alex Harvey who was full of praise for the 14-1 scorer.
Harvey said: “He’s a lovely horse, very genuine. I got a lovely run around on the inside and it was just a matter of holding onto him and pressing the button.
“He put his head down on the run-in and galloped away to the line.
“The ground was a question as he wants a bit of nicer ground. To be honest it’s just the slow side of good bar the straight which is borderline heavy.
“He’s progressive and I can’t wait to see him over a fence.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid and you dream about having a winner so to have two in the week is unbelievable.”
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