O'Sullivan gets off the mark in Galway

Ross O’Sullivan told us on these pages earlier this week that he would be happy with just one at this year's Galway Races following his unforgettable haul of four winners in Ballybrit last year and he got off the mark this evening.

Under Donagh Meyler, who less than half an hour beforehand had the Galway Hurdle stripped away from him by the stewards, timed his run up along the rail to perfection to take the Guinness Novice Hurdle ahead of Paul Townend on the Willie Mullins trained Cameletta Vega.

"Mentally to lose a Galway Hurdle and to come back out and give that horse the ride that he did, to have the confidence to slip up Paul Townend's inner is the sign of a really good sportsman,” said O’Sullivan about Meyler's display after the race.

It was a third win in a row for Strong Link after earlier successes this summer at Wexford and Tipperary and O’Sullivan is planning to get another run into him before the heavy winter ground arrives.

"He wants nice ground and won't run in the depths of winter so we'll continue on and he could go to the October or November meeting in Cheltenham,” O’Sullivan told IrishRacing.com.

The win could kickstart a big few days in Galway for the Kill based trainer as three of last year’s four winners, among a number of others, are due in action before the end of the festival.

Talk In The Park and Donnie Devito are both in a strong renewal of the Guinness Beginners Chase on Friday and then the following day, Volantis goes in the Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle.