GARAIYBA defied top weight to win last night's GPT Galway Handicap on the first day of the Galway Festival. Running in the well known white and black chevrons colours of the Dundalk Racing Club, the John Oxx trained winner was well ridden by Ruby Walsh, whose father, the inimitable Ted (11 times champion amateur) never managed to win this feature.

Garaiyba, who has now won over £20,000 for the club, had a lovely run downhill and leading early in the straight was beaded briefly by the favourite, Royal Albert, but rallied stoutly to snatch the prize by a length.

"He's a very good rider, he rode her very well he's a good lad," said Oxx of the 17 year old Walsh, who has now ridden 16 winners.

Garaiyba is a great asset to the club this year," continued Oxx, who plans to run the filly in a Curragh handicap in a few weeks time.

There are currently 34 members of the Dundalk Racing Club, all of whom are associated with PJ Carroll of Dundalk. They purchased Garaiyba from the Aga Khan with a view to hurdling and she won over timber for Arthur Moore before being returned to Oxx for her Flat career.

The Club was formed back in 1983 and thanks to Oxx, they have has now won 31 races.

It certainly was a good night for syndicates and a half an hour after Garaiyba's success the Cill Dara Syndicate won the GPT Van and Truck Rentals Handicap with Onyourown, well ridden by 8lb claiming apprentice Richard Condon to beat Priolina by a neck.

Described by Dermot Weld as a good, staying progressive colt, Casey Tibbs got the upperhand of his disputing rival Gaultier Gale on the home turn to win the GPT Industrial Properties Maiden in the hands of Michael Kinane.

Owned in partnership by Michael Watt and John Magnier, the Goffs purchased winner was a little green in running but both horses climbed the hill well," said his handler who has saddled the winner of this event on no less than 16 occasions.

By Sadler's Wells, the winner is a grandson of the Seamus McGrath trained French Oaks winner Sweet Mimosa.

Zankle completed a double for the long time reigning Ballybrit monarchs Weld and Kinane when arriving close home to peg back King Of Peace in the GPT Cork Handicap.