Blood Destiny strikes on the final day at Galway

Blood Destiny, who has often threatened to become a top class horse - availed of slightly calmer waters in the €30,000 Lord Hemphill Memorial Handicap Chase, as the curtain came down on the seven day Galway Festival on Sunday. 

He was partnered to victory by Lisgoold jockey Paul Townend for the Cork based Roaringwater Syndicate in the colours made famous by Florida Pearl.

Paul Townend was content to take a lead off another Cork jockey Darragh O’Keeffe aboard Coming Up Easy over the two and a quarter mile trip. Townend kicked for touch coming up the stands side in the closing stages.

The top weight whose attitude has been questioned in the past stretched clear up the hill to register a comfortable three and three quarter length success. 

He readily picked off the gallant front runner Coming Up Easy. 

The victory had added merit in that Blood Destiny carried 12 stone in a decent handicap and probably produced his best performance since beating Spillane's Tower in a novice chase at Navan. 

Afterwards Willie Mullins reflected on a performance that they always believed he was capable of. 

“That's always in him but he hasn't always given us that. He's disappointed me on occasion, but he was very good there today.” 

The winner was relatively easy to back drifting out to 5/1 with all the money coming for locally trained Itsalladream, who was backed from 8/1 in the offices into 7/2. 

The money stayed in the satchels as he finished a distant seventh after an error strewn display.

Mullins, who has had a superb week, suggested a trip to another iconic festival might well be on the cards.

“I'd like to see if there's a nice race for him in Listowel. That will probably be the next option.” 

The race that Willie alluded to is a race on the Sunday at Listowel that Easy Game used to monopolise. 

That would be something of a recovery mission as he made a bad mistake at the last back in June when challenging the classy Jesse Evans at Listowel.

Today's winner carried the colours of The Roaringwater Syndicate a prominent Cork-based ownership group involving the family of the late Archie O'Leary, famous for campaigning top class National Hunt horses notably Florida Pearl.

The syndicate carries the same colours as Florida Pearl but with a different cap. 

They also enjoyed success at Galway two years ago when Pink In The Park made a successful chasing debut for her Cork owners in a Beginners Chase.

Townend was also on the score sheet on Saturday partnering the heavily backed Columbus to an impressive victory in the BoyleSports Maiden Hurdle. 

He improved markedly from his hurdling debut at Killarney. In stark contrast to Killarney his jumping was slick and accurate throughout the race. Townend dictated up front and stretched clear up the hill to win by seven and a half lengths from stable companion Leader Allen partnered by Rosscarberry jockey Brian Hayes.