Nurburgring wins Galway Hurdle as Petrol Head withdrawn

Nurburgring galloped on strongly to run out a convincing winner of the €270,000 Guinness Galway Hurdle for Joseph O'Brien and JJ Slevin, but there was controversy as favourite Petrol Head was withdrawn due to a positive test.

The four-year-old was highly thought of by connections all last season and stayed on well to be fourth in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Having also been third in Grade One novice company at Punchestown, he had a recent warm-up spin on the level and was a well-backed 13-2 chance on his handicap debut over obstacles.

The Willie Mullins-trained pair of Anotherway and Williamstowndancer took them along in the early stages but Nurburgring was always travelling nicely in behind and jumped to the front two out before kicking for home.

He was not completely fluent at the final flight but found plenty after it to pull clear for an emphatic seven-length triumph ahead of the fast-finishing Ndaawi, who just pipped My Mate Mozzie for second place.

Nurburgring takes the Galway Hurdle for Joseph O'Brien and JJ Slevin

A first Galway Hurdle for Slevin, riding for his cousin O'Brien pic.twitter.com/FUV50PG4BV

O’Brien said: "When he ran well in Punchestown, we decided this was a good mid-summer target. He had a little holiday and then had a nice run over a shortish trip on the Flat at Leopardstown to blow the cobwebs away.

"He came here with the four-year-olds’ allowance and really it was a fantastic ride from JJ. He got a good start, a lovely position and made a lovely move at the top of the hill. It was a very impressive performance.

"He was a fresh horse today and was dropping from a Grade One into a handicap, which is always a help. Today was the target, so we won’t rush him back but he will be going back