Comfort Zone produced a determined finish to claim the feature Connacht Hotel Handicap on the opening night of the Galway Festival and could be aimed at another race at the meeting later this week, trainer Joseph O’Brien indicated.
Late surge secures feature success
The Willie Mullins-trained Too Bossy For Us set the early tempo, driven along by Jody Townend as the field quickened approaching halfway. Comfort Zone, under jockey Derek O’Connor, travelled prominently and moved up the centre in the straight to overhaul the leader in the final half-furlong, winning by three-quarters of a length at odds of 18-1.
“It’s fantastic, it was a great ride from Derek. Getting a bit of room on the outside there, he got very sweet. The slower ground maybe helped him as well. He’s run well here at Galway in the past so you might see him back here at the weekend. He’s been running for big pots for the last while and he’s been knocking on the door and threatening to win one. I’m delighted that he did it here today, to win the feature race here on the Monday night is very special and it sets up the week well.”
Trainer’s double and juvenile prospects
O’Brien also completed a quickfire double on the card. Dancing Saxon made all in the Clayton Hotel Galway Handicap, drawing clear from the final bend to win by four-and-a-quarter lengths at the 13-8 market quote. Earlier in the card, Trean (11-4) produced a lively turn of foot to dominate the Eventus Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden, taking the contest by around five lengths; that race has previously provided the winner Constitution River, an Eclipse victor.
Paddy Twomey, trainer of Trean, suggested the colt has plenty of options ahead after a convincing performance and is already being considered for notable targets.
Other notes from Galway card
- Witches Familiar maintained a perfect record over hurdles in the Galmont Hotel & The Galway Bay Hotel Novice Hurdle and could be stepped up to Grade Two level later in the season.
- The slower ground was flagged by connections as a factor that may have favoured some of the winners on the night.
Results snapshot
| Race | Winner | Odds | Winning Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connacht Hotel Handicap (feature) | Comfort Zone | 18-1 | 3/4 length |
| Clayton Hotel Galway Handicap | Dancing Saxon | 13-8 | 4 1/4 lengths |
| Eventus Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden | Trean | 11-4 | ~5 lengths |
For local followers of the British and Irish flat scene, the Galway Festival is a key fixture in the summer calendar. Trainers frequently use the week to target valuable prizes and to position promising juveniles and handicappers for the remainder of the season. Comfort Zone’s victory on Monday evening strengthens his credentials and, given the trainer’s comment about a potential return later in the week, connections, punters and festival spectators will be watching the entries list closely as the week progresses.
Stewards’ declarations and the state of the ground will both be factors in any decision to re-run the gelding during the festival; updates will be issued by the racecourse and trainers as the meeting advances.
