Pervasive rain and gloom couldn't stop the phenomenal Tony McCoy lighting up yesterday's Guinness Galway Hurdle with a brilliantly-executed big race victory on Toast The Spreece. McCoy's late late delivery of Toast The Spreece to beat the gallant front-running English invader Kinnecash by half a length was swift compensation for Aidan O'Brien, whose Idiot's Venture was just beaten in Wednesday's Galway Plate, but dejection for Charlie Swan, who chose Just Little (eighth) in preference to Toast The Spreece.

"That was probably my fault, as Charlie said he'd ride him if he didn't run in the McDonogh (the McDonogh Handicap on Tuesday)," O'Brien said, but McCoy proved a more than adequate substitute for the horse, who is owned by Dublin publicans Tony Weir and Brian Palmer.

Kinnescash's gutsy effort to make all looked to have succeeded when Norman Williamson kicked on into the dip and the favourite Native-Darrig, the double-chasing Saving Bond and Just Little all began to struggle. However, McCoy eased Toast The Spreece into position to stalk Kinnescash into the straight and, in the battle between the leader and Valley Erne at the last flight, the flat speed that allowed Toast The Spreece win last March's Lincoln came in to effect.

"I've known Anthony (Tony McCoy) ever since we worked in Jim Bolger's stable and gave him his first Grade One winner with Shaunies Lady at Punchestown. He gave Toast The Spreece a great ride, but we always thought the horse had a big handicap in him," O'Brien said.

McCoy has already ridden 21 winners from 76 rides in the new season in Britain as he bids for a third champion jockey title, but Toast The Spreece was the big Galway winner on only his third ride of the festival.

"I don't like riding second jockey but this was different as I knew Charlie was not certain he'd picked right. He (Toast the Spreece) took me where I wanted to go through the race and that made my job easier. I waited as long as I could and he's a very good horse to win this and a Lincoln," McCoy said.

Kinnecash's bit went through his mouth before the last hurdle but Williamson didn't offer it as an excuse and the gelding's trainer, Peter Bowen said: "He's so genuine, keeps improving and having finished fifth last year, we'll get there in time."

Saving Bond was bidding for a £20,000 bonus, having won the GPT Handicap on Monday, but finished fourth. Jockey Paul Carberry said: "I'd a super run but he cut out after the second last." The disappointing favourite Native Darrig's trainer Willie Mullins reported: "He didn't seem to handle the track and just didn't fire."

The big race victory seemed to spark the O'Brien yard into a winning frenzy as they landed the following two races with Code Of Honour and Female Lead. Code Of Honour was an easy five-length winner of the Guinness Handicap under Christy Roche, but Shane Kelly had to work much harder to score his second winner of the festival, with Female Lead just getting up to beat Comedie Arrete by just a short head.

Damancher was a warm order to make a winning start to hurdling in the Harp Novice Hurdle, but although he cruised alongside Fiddlers Tune on the turn in, he could not quicken after the last and went down by a head to the Richard Dunwoody-ridden Fiddlers Tune.

No Tag looked a fortunate winner of the novice chase as the front-running Clonagam looked the winner despite some indifferent jumping until finally paying the price and falling at the second last. No Tag may run here again tomorrow.