Joseph O'Brien's All The Answers battled to a two-and-three-quarter-length success over Dermot Weld-trained odds-on favourite Silver Concorde in the Tote Maiden Hurdle that kicked-off the card on the third day of the Galway Festival.
Frank Berry, racing manager for owner JP McManus, said of the 100-30 victor : "That was lovely and Mark (Walsh) gave him a lovely ride.
"He was a little free early on but he got him settled and he jumped great. It was a nice performance.
"We'll find another novice for him down the road. You'd have to be delighted with that performance today.
"He handled the ground. I don't think he wants real deep ground."
Brian Ellison was celebrating a notable winner with Our Kylie.
In an incident-packed Tote European Breeders Fund Mares Handicap Hurdle, the 9-1 chance managed to avoid a host of casualties to score for the Malton trainer, who has enjoyed plenty of success at the meeting over the years.
"She was lucky to keep out of trouble. She was on the inside but moved out and missed the trouble," said Ellison.
"She's a very very tough mare and jumps well. She won on the Flat last week and made hard work of it, but that's the way she is.
#GalwayRaces 3.35
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) July 27, 2016
1 Our Kylie 9/1
2 Floral Fantasy 12/1
3 Give Her Bach 16/1
4 Popboru 10/1
https://t.co/8QUy0qLk2I
"She has improved a lot and is a nice mare. I saw this race about a month ago and put her back on the Flat.
"She had won two from two over hurdles and I didn't want her going up in the weights. This looked tailor-made but it's still difficult and you need a bit of luck."
He added: "For a 0-123 the prize-money is fantastic and you just don't get that in England.
"We were a bit worried when the rain came last night as she's better on better ground, but we were here so took our chance."
Robbie Power was one of those in the wars, suffering a suspected fracture cheekbone. Davy Russell was eventually stood down with lower back pain, while Conor Maxwell had a suspected broken nose
Gavin Cromwell's Plain Talking (10-1) held on to take the TheTote.com Handicap Hurdle.
Plain Talking hit the front just after the turn for home and went clear, before favourite Sea Light came from way off the pace to throw down a late challenge, ultimately failing by half a length.
"I'm delighted with that. She's improving all the time," said Cromwell.
"It was a relief after she missed the last. I thought the other horse was going to get up on her outside.
"She's tough and kept pulling it out. She's genuine for a mare. She's only four and has guts and a great heart.
"I thought I might have left her too long and was panicking that she wouldn't be fit enough.
"I have her in the good handicap on Saturday. She was a few pounds out of the handicap but that will bring her in with a penalty. If she's fit and sound she'll run.
"She could be a nice one for the winter as she handles soft ground. After Saturday I might take my time with her as she's still a novice."
He added of stable star Jer's Girl: "She came back in yesterday so we are looking forward to the winter."
A photo finish in the #Galway Races 4.45
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) July 27, 2016
1 Sweet Company 10/1
2 A Shin Kildare 1/2 f
3 Three Star General4/1 https://t.co/JdUhNQ2BIQ
Nina Carberry again advertised her talents as she drove Tony Martin's Sweet Company (10-1) to a narrow victory over the odds-on A Shin Kildare in the Tote (Q.R) Maiden.
Martin said: "Nina was all the help he needed there. It was a good performance and definitely the jockey was a big help.
"He has run over hurdles and took a while to come. As you can see from his antics there (in the winner's enclosure) he's still very nervy and leery. He's still not there in his head yet.
"We'll get him home and see where he goes in a fortnight. He could go back over hurdles."
Adrian Keatley has had Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Jet Setting as his flag-bearer this year and had another notable success with Millefiori in TheTote.com Handicap.
She held off Cairdiuil by a neck under Shane Foley and survived a stewards' inquiry before the result was confirmed.
Keatley said: "A winner like this is important for the team, we're trying to go forwards all the time."
He added: "She's after coming to hand this year more than any other year. She was just raw and backward and we gave her a chance.
"The ultimate would be to get some black type with her before she retires at the end of the season. That might be tough.
"I have her in a Listed race at Baden Baden in a few weeks' time."
Tony The Gent (7-4 favourite) gave Ger Lyons back-to-back wins in the Tote Handicap after Sacrificial 12 months ago.
Lyons' brother and assistant Shane said: "He did it well - with plenty of guts.
"That's only his fifth run and he's improving with every run. We'll see what the handicapper does and take it from there.
"That was a stiff mile and he got it very well but he also has plenty of speed for seven."
