Planchart makes it a double for Andrew Slattery at Galway

Andrew Slattery secured his second big-race win of the week at the Galway Festival as Planchart came out on top in the Arthur Guinness EBF Corrib Fillies Stakes.

Slattery sent out Creggs Pipes to win the valuable BMW Mile on Tuesday and her stablemate duly added Listed glory to the money they already had in the bank.

Favourite Rayisa set the early pace but he was tracked by Declan McDonogh aboard the winner, who was sent off a 100-30 chance.

Although Rayisa did not go down without a fight, Planchart was able to get on top inside the final furlong, running on well to score by half a length in the seven-furlong heat.

Planchart had previously finished fifth in the Naas Oaks Trial and Slattery felt she probably should have won that event, too.

He said: “I think if they re-ran the race in Naas the last day she’d win and (jockey) Billy Lee thinks the same way.

“That’s as short as she wants to go today and she won’t run over seven furlongs again. She’s a Listed winner now, and that’s the main thing for Mr Garvey.

“Every time she runs, she finishes well and we probably overfaced her a few times last year.

“She works with Creggs Pipes at home and sits in behind which suits her.

“We have won a Listed race and a Premier Handicap now so it’s been some week. I’ve a nice bunch of horses this year. We were unable to sell a few in the breeze-up sales which left us with a few nice ones.”

A stalls malfunction meant the Hop House 13 Handicap had to get under way with a flag start, but that did not stop Total Demolition producing a power-packed finish to score.

The 10-1 chance was well-beaten into 10th in a race at the meeting on Wednesday, and looked to have plenty to do under Conor Hoban turning in.

At that point Marshall Jennings appeared to have given his rivals the slip from the front, but Total Demolition charged home to score by three-quarters of a length.

Trainer John Larkin said: “I laughed when the stalls broke as he’s like an old woman out of them. He was drawn 18 of 18 yesterday and was slowly away so his race was over before it even started.

“This was the race I really wanted to go for, but he was 19 in the ballot and I couldn’t believe he got in. He’s won three now this year which is great. He could run again here on Saturday.”

Xsquared powered up the home straight to land the Guinness Harp Novice Chase.

Hurricane Ben looked to have the race in control when in a clear lead after the last, while Xsquared was well back in fourth.

However, Kevin Sexton got a real tune out of Peter Fahey’s 4-1 chance and he breezed past the leader to win by six lengths.

Fahey said: “We only got him in January and he’s been fantastic and is so tough. Kevin said we could step him up in trip, and that would give him more options as well. He could come back here for a Graded race later in the year if the ground is suitable.

“This is what it’s all about, winning here at the Festival.”

Scamall Dubh caused a 66-1 shock in the opening Guinness Dublin Porter Beginners Chase, but winning rider Mark Enright felt Grand National-winning trainer Mouse Morris had pulled off a smart bit of placing.

He said: “Mouse genuinely fancied him and his son Jamie rides him out at home and also fancied him. He travelled well all the way, maybe a bit too well, and he missed the last a bit but he galloped all the way up the run-in. He’s very game.

“It’s lovely to get a winner here as it’s a big stage and a lot of us don’t get many chances at the likes of Cheltenham or Aintree.”