WATCH: JP McManus celebrates big race win as Abbeyfeale jockey scores thrilling Galway Festival success

IT was a memorable opening night for Limerick racing connections at the Galway Summer Racing Festival as 18,472 racegoers flocked to Ballybrit

Filey Bay justified market support in recording an emotional victory in the featured Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap for Limerick owner JP McManus.

The prestigious event on the first evening of the week-long festival at Ballybrit is restricted to amateur riders and it was Alan O’Sullivan – brother of the late Michael O’Sullivan, who tragically died in February following injuries suffered in a fall at Thurles – who shone in the saddle.

O’Sullivan had to weave a path to get a run on the JP McManus-owned gelding and when he did he fairly shot clear aboard Emmet Mullins’ 7-1 chance, with the winning jockey looking to the skies as he passed the line four and three-quarter lengths ahead of Mon Coeur.

“It’s unbelievable, my goal at the start of the year was to be good enough that someone might want me for this. He was looking down on me, I think,” said O’Sullivan.

“When I wanted the gaps, they came for me, I got a dream run. I probably went the brave man’s route, but I thought it’s what Mikey would have done. I had loads of horse, if I got any gap at all I had the horse to take it.

JP McManus reacts to Davy Crockett winning the opening race and pays tribute to 'amazing trainer 'Edward O'Grady' who saddled his 1978 Galway Plate winner Shining Flame, purchased from Wexford hurling legend Nicky Rackard
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“I got a dream run and he galloped all the way to the line.”

McManus had initiated an opening night double at Galway when Davy Crockett lived up to his regal breeding with a comprehensive victory in the Galway Bay Hotel & The Galmont Hotel Novice Hurdle.

The Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old is a son of dual Derby hero Camelot out of Champion Hurdle-winning mare Annie Power, making him a half-brother to dual Grade One victor Mystical Power, who landed this Galway Festival curtain-raiser two years ago.

After the race McManus paid tribute to training great Edward O’Grady, who died on Sunday at the age of 75 and with whom he had a long association.

McManus said: “No doubt he was an amazing trainer. I went to him in ’78.

Filey Bay is a 7-1 winner of the Connacht Hotel Handicap for Emmet Mullins
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“I remember Jack Of Trumps won in Punchestown as a five-year-old carrying 12st in the Jameson Gold Cup which was a handicap then.

“We went on to win the Galway Plate that year in ’78 (with Shining Flame).

“We had many great days with the likes of Bit Of A Skite, Mucklemeg and Time For A Run.

“Edward was always very good to his staff and very kind to everybody.

“When Edward fancied a horse you didn’t need to have money, all you needed to have was credit because they nearly always delivered. His record was second to none at that time.

“He was a great judge of a horse and he will be missed.”

The Donnacha OBrien-trained Kilmeaden is a game winner of the @gra_chocolates Handicap @Galway_Races pic.twitter.com/SIWDmYEJpd

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Monday night's card also provided a memorable first Galway Festival success for Abbeyfeale jockey Paddy Harnett who partnered the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Kilmeaden to a game victory in the Grá Chocolates Handicap.

The winner, who proved a neck too good for runner-up Starford, was returned at odds of 11/2.

The success continued an excellent run of form for highly-rated jockey Harnett.

Afterwards a delighted Paddy Harnett told Racing TV: "Abslolutely super, absolutely delighted so I am. The last couple of weeks have been great. I am really enjoying it and it is good to get on them horses.

"That was a good performance by him. He was still green and raw obviously, a big open space he got to the front pretty early off a slow pace. But once the other horses came to challenge he stuck his nose out and he galloped to the line really well."

This year’s Summer Festival at Galway will see the running of 53 races, over 7 days with an increased total prize fund of €2,171,000 and a minimum value of €17,000 for all races together with a feature race of at least €110,000 per day.

This year’s Galway Plate on Wednesday and Galway Hurdle on Thursday will both be valued at €270,000.