Jockey Declan McDonogh and trainer Kevin Prendergast had a night to remember at Galway this evening when completing a 615-1 treble highlighted by Eklim's return to form in the featured McDonogh EBF Handicap.
The veteran Curragh trainer produced a smart debutante, Takrice (6-1), to land the McDonogh Feeds EBF Maiden before Eklim (10-1) obliged in the colours of main patron Sheikh Hamdan, and then Blava (7-1) took the McDonogh Style Concepts Maiden.
Prendergast was winning the McDonogh Handicap for the third time and his jockey produced Eklim with a strong run on the wide outside in the straight to defeat 16-1 chance Fearn Royal by a length and a half.
The 3-1 favourite Cache Creek met trouble in running. Champion jockey Michael Kinane, who opted to stay at Galway rather than travel to Goodwood, had a wall of horses in front of him turning for home, at which stage McDonogh had Eklim poised to challenge the long-time leader My Lucy Locket.
Eventually Kinane secured an opening, but Cache Creek had to settle for fourth place in this Premier Handicap worth €78,650 to the winner.
Kinane bounced back in the next race, producing Huxley with a devastating run on the outer in the final furlong to land a wholesale gamble for Tramore trainer Paul Roche.
Huxley was supported from all rates around 6-1 down to 2-1 and gave Roche his fifth winner at the Galway Festival from the mixed team of horses in his care.
Takrice, who sparked the McDonogh-Prendergast treble, did the bookmakers a favour as she produced the better acceleration in the final furlong to overhaul even-money favourite Summer Sunset.
And Blava responded to a strong drive from McDonogh to open her account by a head from the long-time leader Alone He Stands.
Sum Leader turned in an awesome display over fences to claim the Albatros Plant Nutrition Chase in the hands of the season's leading jump jockey, Barry Geraghty.
The seven-year-old looks a high-class recruit to chasing, having taken a novice event at Ballinrobe earlier in the month, and his trainer Gerry Keane is already thinking in terms of bringing this good stayer to Cheltenham in November.