Ndaawi awarded Galway Hurdle in dramatic circumstances

First past the post Helvic Dream was demoted by the stewards, a ruling Noel Meade intends to appeal against

Thu, 31 Jul, 2025 - 17:48

Tommy Lyons, Ballybrit

The end of a pulsating renewal of the Guinness Galway Hurdle, run in front of a crowd of 24,381, required the intervention of the stewards, and though Helvic Dream was first past the post, he lost the race in the ensuing enquiry to give Gordon Elliott, trainer of the promoted Ndaawi, and jockey Jack Kennedy their first win in the country’s most valuable hurdle.

It also completed the big-race double for the County Meath trainer who won Wednesday’s Plate with Western Fold and, in a sport which requires more than a fair share of luck to go with talent, it meant that Elliott’s fellow ‘Royal’, trainer Noel Meade, had to settle for second place in both.

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