Sylkie, with Rory Cleary on board, takes the victory in Galway on Sunday. Photo: Galway Races/X

Athlone jockey has win at closing day of Galway festival

Published: Mon 5 Aug 2024, 6:06 PM

Local jockey Rory Cleary was in the winner's enclosure on Sunday in Galway, when he helped bring down the curtain on the week-long festival.

Cleary was on board 28/1 shot, Sylkie when the DJ Howard trained three-year-old took the spoils in the penultimate race of the festival, the Village Salthill Handicap.

The outsider came with a late burst to score a length victory over evens favourite Presence.

A 28-1 winner!

Sylkie wins the Village Salthill Handicap!#ITVRacing | @galwayraces pic.twitter.com/xFsUIG3sdr
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) August 4, 2024

It was the Athlone man's second win of the festival. Co-incidentally he opened his account with a win in the penultimate race on the opening day of the festival, the previous Monday night. On that occasion, Cleary rode Kentucky Gal for Tony Mullins.