Veteran Lord Erskine notched the 14th success of his remarkable career when powering clear to slam joint-favourite Run For Oscar by 14 lengths in the Deacy Gilligan Hurdle on the first day of Galway’s September meeting.

The 12-year-old, trained for James Nolan by Harry Rogers and ridden by regular partner Darragh O’Keeffe, was left in front after drama on the second circuit which saw HMS Seahorse unseat Peter Smithers at the fourth last before joint-favourite Yeats Star was carried out by the loose horse at the next.

Run For Oscar loomed large racing into the dip but, between the last two flights, Lord Erskine stretched clear for a convincing win.

Said Harry Rogers, “He’s always been very easy to train – he just eats, sleeps and does his work and enjoys life. And he’s well-looked after by the team at home. He’s won a few big pots for us, including an Irish Cesarewitch (in 2017). The late Pat Smullen won twice on him and steered us in the right direction with him. 

“He’s done very well for us. That’s ideal ground today and things went right for us. He’ll probably go to Listowel for the €100,000 two-mile handicap hurdle and he’ll probably run on the flat again before the end of the season.” 

A high-class staying hurdler last season and rated 154 in that discipline, the Declan Queally-trained Rocky’s Diamond made an impressive start to his chasing career when making all under amateur Michael Kenneally in the Watch Every Race Live On Racing TV Beginners Chase.

The five-year-old jumped impeccably, often outjumping odds-on favourite and nearest pursuer My Great Mate and stayed on powerfully up the hill to beat Addragoole by five and a half lengths.

“He’s only in nine weeks and I was a bit worried that his jumping would be too exuberant,” admitted Declan Queally, “He’s a beautiful horse, a very brave jumper, with serious scope. We thought it would suit him better here than Listowel, to find his feet, and it has worked out. So I’m delighted. We won’t be in any panic with him. We have lots of options, races like the ‘Drinmore’, the ‘Florida Pearl’, over three miles, or the Grade 1 in Limerick at Christmas, which might suit him.” 

And he was full of praise for winning rider Michael Kenneally, “He’s a very good rider, with a 7lb claim, and I hope to give him plenty of opportunities.” 

Noel Meade stated, “She likes an ease in the ground and the obvious race for her is the ‘Lartigue’, a four-year-old handicap, in Listowel,” after Money Dancer, the 11/8 favourite, made it third-time-lucky over flights in the Kenny Developments Maiden Hurdle, mastering front-runner Firebrand for a cosy, 11 lengths success.

He added, “She went a bit stale on the flat, so we gave her a break. She was impressive enough today – she settled in the hood and jumped well and, when Donagh (Meyler) gave her a squeeze, she picked-up well. The Listowel race is worth €60,000 and we’ll see how she’s handicapped.” 

Trainer Cian Collins completed a fine 94/1 double with well-backed, Listowel-bound Sporting Glance (Danny Gilligan) in a division of the Galway Handicap Hurdle and Solly Attwell (Jordan Gainford), gutsy winner of the Galway Races Handicap Chase.