Tudor City rolls back the years to land a second Galway Hurdle

Galway Races standing dish Tudor City continued his love affair with Ballybrit by capturing the Guinness Galway Hurdle for a second time.

Lining up at the meeting for an eighth consecutive year, the Tony Martin-trained 22-1 chance ensured unheralded jockey Liam McKenna scored the biggest victory of his career on his first ride of the season.

The winner made a successful reappearance after a winter break at Punchestown at the end of May before finishing a creditable third in the Apprentice Derby at the Curragh last month.

Joseph O'Brien’s Prairie Dancer and Jessica Harrington’s The Very Man had led the field along at a frenetic pace for the majority of the typically competitive affair, but the complexion of the race changed as the field turned for home and both Jesse Evans and the John Breslin-owned Tudor City loomed up travelling smoothly.

Noel Meade's Jesse Evans cleared the final flight in the lead, but was worn down by Tudor City, who went on to score by three-quarters.

Prairie Dancer and the Gordon Elliott inmate Glan completed the minor placings.

The Tony Martin-trained Tudor City (22/1) wins Europe's richest handicap, the Galway Hurdle, for the second time #GalwayRaces #rteracing pic.twitter.com/WE77ZI4G6Z

"We've had a few great days here and this lad won it a few years ago and prior to that we’ve won it with Quick Jack and Thomas Edison," said Martin.

"These are the races you love to win and target them a while out. Fortunately enough it has worked out for us a few times. It’s a great place to be, it’s great to be here and great to have the ammunition.

"I met John in America in 1985, he’s a great friend of my father’s and he’s looked after me since I was a nipper. Himself and his wife Debbie are two great people. We joined