Saving Bond put himself in line for a possible £20,000 bonus when winning yesterday's GPT Qualified Riders Handicap, the first leg of what could be an outstanding Galway festival double. The Noel Meade-trained gelding will pick up that bonus if he can also land Thursday's Guinness Hurdle and he proved he is in peak shape for that assignment by stalking his opposition in last night's ultra-competitive handicap before accelerating clear up the hill to give the perfect finish to a consummate performance by his rider Tom Gibney.
The 23-year-old amateur from Crossakiel, Co Meath was riding only his fifth winner, but he displayed the nerve of a hardened professional by completely switching off his partner before making his move coming down the hill.
The well-backed favourite and top-weight Winged Hussar was just getting the better of a battle with Colm's Rock when Gibney unleashed Saving Bond, thought to have been a doubtful stayer beforehand, and they powered home three-and-a-half lengths clear.
It was a fourth success in the race for Meade who previously won with Heist (1995), Beau Beauchamp (1992) and Steel Duke (1981), but the trainer was keen to praise Gibney's role in the victory.
"Tom had a very bad fall when riding for John Fowler and smashed his leg, so he had a long lay off, but he rides very well and has a cool head as we saw. I thought Saving Bond would stay the two miles on the flat if he relaxed, and Tom did that," Meade said.
Paul Carberry will be in the plate when Saving Bond attempts his lucrative double on Thursday, a scenario that will cause those who doubted Saving Bond's resolution last winter to eat some humble pie. "You have to remember he was beaten by the likes of I'm Supposin' and Graphic Equaliser at that time. Now he's after four in a row and a £20,000 bonus would do very nicely too," Meade grinned.
The market had the GPT Properties Fund Maiden down between Desert Fox and Aljjawarih, but punters got stung with the 9/1 shot Pelagius battling back after being headed by Aljjawarih to hold the late challenge of Aislo. Desert Fox finished only fourth after a horror run through the race, being baulked three times.
"We're not totally surprised," John Oxx said. "The couple of previous runs did him good as he's a big lazy devil and Lady Clague always seems to have a winner at Galway."
The old partnership of Adrian Maguire and Michael Hourigan reunited to win the GPT Dublin Handicap Hurdle with I Remember It Well who showed guts aplenty to beat Dr Bones and River Valley Lady.
"As I said to Adrian, it's good to see us back together," Hourigan smiled. "That's only the second winner he's ridden for me since leaving for England and this is lovely for him after having had a lean spell. I Remember It Well will run in the (Guinness) Hurdle on Thursday. She loves her racing and Paul (Hourigan) will ride."
The champagne flowed in the winners' enclosure when Lanturn beat market rival Fiddlers Tune in the opening race of the festival and it was easy to see why. Owned by Brenda Byrne from Athy, Lanturn was raised as a foster foal by the family who will hope to repeat the happy scenes when Lanturn runs again on Saturday.
Tom Rudd took a crashing fall off Cherrygarth in this race, when three horses came down at the hurdle past the stands, and was taken to hospital, but was later found to have only incurred bruising to his shoulder.
Western Chief will be out again before most, on Wednesday, after opening Dermot Weld's 1997 Ballybrit account with a smooth last-to-first success in the 12-furlong handicap and Lady Oranswell gave Pat Flynn, who afterwards made it a double with Cochis Run in the bumper, victory by six lengths in the Cork Handicap.
