Galway Festival:Island Myth was a shock 50-1 winner of the feature Freshways Handicap Hurdle on the penultimate day of Galway's week-long festival. But there was no fluke about the victory as the six-year-old, owned and trained by Noel Glynn, was a comfortable scorer.
His rider Ian McCarthy tracked the pacesetting Trimbellina from halfway and the 5lb claimer steadily made his move before committing Noel Glynn's charge at the home turn.
And the joint bottom weight pulled away in great style to win by five lengths.
"The horse had a leg injury a couple of years ago and we've been nursing him back to health," said Ennis-based Glynn.
"The light weight helped him a lot today. It was Ian McCarthy's first ride for me and he gave the horse a great ride.
"This horse doesn't do too much at home - a bit like the trainer."
The Aidan O'Brien team enjoyed a double with two-year-olds Black Quartz and Mikhail Glinka.
Black Quartz rallied in game fashion to defy top weight in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery.
But it was a close-run thing as the 4-5 favourite only got back up in the dying strides to pip Corcovada by a short head.
"It was a good performance to win carrying top weight," said winning rider Johnny Murtagh.
"He's a fine big horse. When the other horse came at him he fought back well."
Supporters of Mikhail Glinka had a scare when the 4-7 favourite appeared to hit the rail about a furlong out as the newcomer showed signs of greenness.
That incident allowed Walter De La Mare to go on but Murtagh got more out of his mount, who was soon back on an even keel to win by a length and a half.
Paco Jack (7-1) just outpointed Air Of Confusion in a thrilling run to the line for the Low Low Galway Blazers Handicap Chase.
There was nothing between the two over the last and they fought out a ding-dong tussle, but it was Joe Crowley's five-year-old who prevailed by three-quarters of a length.
"He ran very well earlier in the week and was entitled to run well today," said Crowley's assistant Damien Byrne.
"He done it very well. We'll give him a week off now and then hopefully train him for the Kerry National."
First Trim floored the odds-on favourite Gratified in the Jockeys Association Maiden Hurdle.
Seamus Fahey's 16-1 shot, ridden by 7lb claimer Shane Butler, got the better of a battle with Ruby Walsh's mount by a length and a half.
"Everybody must have thought we were mad going from five furlongs on the Flat to a two-mile hurdle!" said County Kildare-based Fahey.
"He improved a lot from his previous run and Shane gave him a great ride.
"We'll see what the handicapper does with him and probably go for a four-year-old handicapper in the near future."
Fahey completed a double when Cybersnow (6-1) easily took the Cheestrings Handicap in the hands of 5lb claimer Shane Foley.