Galvin wins National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham Festival
Galvin #Galvin
Galvin, formerly with Gordon Elliott before being transferred last week to Ian Ferguson’s yard in Northern Ireland, was a gritty but decisive winner of the closing Sam Vestey National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Chase.
In a race usually confined to amateur riders but this year exclusively for professionals – while their counterparts remain subject to suspension under coronavirus restrictions – Jack Kennedy doubled his tally for the meeting.
He had 7-2 shot Galvin in contention throughout, but behind the leaders in this marathon contest, until taking closer order into the straight and jumping to the front at the last to beat Next Destination by a length-and-a-half.
Meanwhile, Foster’s Escaria Ten was the same distance back in third in Tuesday’s final race.
Galvin had been saved for the race after winning over an extended three miles at this track in October.
He had been trained by Elliott, but is now being looked after by County Antrim-based Ferguson, who has had a long association with Galvin’s owner Ronnie Bartlett.
He bought Galvin for 34,000 euros at the sales in 2017.
