Galway Racing:Donegal trainer Ray McGlinchey was all smiles as Incline edged a three-way photo in the €160,000 Tote Galway Mile European Breeders Fund Handicap at Ballybrit tonight..
Meeting specialists Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen looked set to secure another Festival success when the latter pushed for home on straight aboard Absolute Image.
But the eventual winner, a 25-1 chance under Davy Moran, and Crooked Throw gave chase, with the three flashing across the line.
Incline prevailed by a short head from Crooked Throw, with Absolute Image having to settle for third.
Richard Fahey's gambled-on British raider Bolodenka, the 4-1 favourite, was a huge disappointment, racing in last position for much of the way before finishing in mid-division, although Karl Burke's Moody Tunes ran a cracker to be fourth.
Elsewhere First Row (7-1) demonstrated his appetite for a battle as he got up in the dying strides to grab the McDonogh Properties Chase.
Old stager Adamant Approach looked all over the winner as Ruby Walsh afforded himself a look round on the turn for home, but a never-say-die Roger Loughran was pumping away in behind on the Dessie Hughes-trained five-year-old.
The pair settled down to fight it out and it was First Row, a winner in similar fashion at Kilbeggan last time out, who found most, with half a length separating the pair at the line in the €50,000 contest.