McKenna makes fairytale return to action with Galway Hurdle success on Tudor City

Jockey Liam McKenna enjoyed a fairytale return to action on Thursday when helping Tudor City become the first horse in nearly 40 years to win the Guinness Galway Hurdle for a second time.

The 2019 winner of Europe’s richest handicap hurdle repeated the feat to score at 22-1 for trainer Tony Martin and owner John Breslin.

Under an inspired ride from the 7lb claimer, Tudor City proved three parts of a length too good for Jesse Evans with Prairie Dancer in third and another outsider, Glan, in fourth.

It was a third Galway Hurdle in all for the Martin-Breslin team who also scooped it in 2015 with Quick Jack and it was a fourth for Martin, successful too with JP McManus’s Thomas Edison in 2014.

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Thursday’s outcome proved a welcome return to big-race glory for the Co Meath trainer but it was a novel experience for McKenna, 27, who hadn’t ridden in any kind of race since breaking his collarbone in Easter Monday’s Irish Grand National.

The Co Tyrone jockey could have been forgiven rustiness in his first spin for over three months but he and the Galway stalwart underneath him didn’t miss a beat with a daring route up the inner.

It was Tudor City’s fourth run in the Galway Hurdle – having finished seventh and fifth in the previous two years – and the oldest horse in the race along with his inexperienced rider proved a perfect combination.

With just 21 previous career winners under his belt it was a dazzling success for McKenna in front of a ‘Ladies Day’ attendance of 23,136, the biggest of the week so far but down on 2019′s corresponding figure of 24,503.

“I wouldn’t be someone that’s in demand but to ride a Galway Hurdle winner is unbelievable. It’s something everybody should experience – just unreal,” the jockey commented.

“I can’t believe it. I was never really happy. The plan going out was to sit second or third but I never travelled. I only started travelling going to the last. He winged it, met it on a perfect stride and he picked up,” McKenna said.

On RTÉ the former champion jockey Barry Geraghty praised McKenna’s effort, calling it “a brilliant ride” and pointing out how any top rider would be rightly lauded for such an effort.

Martin wasn’t surprised though and said: “He’s a right rider and gave him a great ride. Most important he listens to you, and he knows him form home.

“We were hopeful of a good run. He had a lovely prep at the Curragh a month ago, you could see he was in rude health today.”

Tudor City became the oldest horse to win the Galway Hurdle since the 11-year-old Point d’Atout in 1947, a horse that also won it five years previously in 1942. Pinch Hitter in 1982-83 was the last horse to win it twice.

If joy was unalloyed in the big race there were more poignant scenes earlier after Surrounding repeated her own 2019 success in the Listed Corrib Stakes.

The nine-year-old mare’s 11th victory in 44 career starts came after her owner-breeder Peter Newell, previously a well-known amateur jockey, passed away in the early hours of the morning.

“I hope it helps lift the spirits of the Newell family a bit because Peter was a great supporter of ours and she’s the best animal they bred in all their years breeding. She’s very special to them and we’ll have to mind her and put her first at all times,” said trainer Michael Halford after the 10-1 shot powered up the hill to beat Emilie Gray by a neck.

There had been drama early in the race when the pace-forcing Red Heel appeared to spook at a road-crossing, losing jockey Wesley Joyce in the process. Joyce was taken to Galway University Hospital for further assessment.

The return of mixed cards has been a significant factor in Galway 2022 and Monasterevin trainer Peter Fahey pulled off a fine cross-code double on Thursday.

Visionarian was a first Galway festival winner for Athenry owner Basil Holian in the Grade Three novice chase and, like buses, a second came in the following mile with Soaring Monarch.

Denis O’Regan’s move to get up the inside on the turn-in proved crucial to Visionarian getting the better of Call Me Lyreen by three parts of a length in a driving finish.

“A double is unbelievable and to get it for Basil as well makes it even more special,” said Fahey who wasn’t surprised by Visionarian upsetting some highly-rated hurdlers.

“A lot of them had high marks over hurdles but we always thought our lad would be better over a fence and he’s starting to prove that.

“He looked a slow jumper over hurdles but we schooled him once over fences and he was electric,” he said.

Willie Mullins completed a first and last race double through Rambranlt’jac and What Path who made most in the bumper.