It’s glee for Lee in Hurdle

GALWAY jockey Graham Lee fulfilled a lifetime’s ambition yesterday when riding a winner in one of the two big races in Galway for the first time, the Guinness Galway Hurdle.

The Mervue man was handed the spin on 6/1 shot Overturn after regular jockey Jason Maguire was ruled out through injury, and the Galway man never looked back as he travelled from pillar to post to romp home by five and a half lengths.

“It means a lot to me, when I was a young lad I used to walk out to this place from home, this is all I ever wanted to do, and it means a lot to me to ride a winner at Galway,” Lee said after the race.

Overturn headed the field from the off, with last year’s winner Bahrain Storm tucked in behind him and Fosters Cross and favourite Dirar also in close quarters. The eventual winner set a good gallop, which was expected after Lee revealed that trainer Donald McCain had told him to “loose him [Overturn] off, he’ll stay the two and a half miles. Enjoy yourself, and if you are beaten, you’ll have given it a good shot”.

The six years old gelding never looked troubled, putting in a near-flawless display of jumping, and coming out of the dip and around the turn for the final time, the contest had become a two horse race between Overturn and Dirar, who was trying to justify the tag of favourite having been sent off at 4/1.

The trip had taken nothing out of Overturn, however, and he pulled away coming up the hill to win comfortably, with Dirar beaten by half a length by Bahrain Storm for second place with a price of 8/1.Slieveardagh came in fourth at 9/1 a further three lengths back.

“It felt like a good even tempo, I was just a passenger on him, he did all the work,” said Lee, before his thoughts turned to the unlucky Maguire. “Jason is in my thoughts, he did a lot of work with this horse. This is the hardest game in the world, but the good days outweigh the bad days,” Lee said.

It all proved too much for Overturn’s groom, who was reduced to tears as he led his charge into the parade ring, although the horse seemed none the worse off for his efforts and showed plenty of life in the ring, suggesting he was capable of another trip around the famous track, but he settled for a drink of water and a walk to the stables.

For a more detailed report see page 43 of the City Tribune

See also:McCoy has his finger on the pulse – Page 44Admiral Barry lays down the law – Page 44Roche & Howley take Galway by storm – Page 44