The Shadow of the upcoming Galway festival loomed large over yesterday's Doyle Brothers Chase at Killarney and it seemed appropriate that a famed Galway runner in Feathered Gale took the first prize. Feathered Gale may have won an Irish Grand National last year, but he first hit the headlines when landing the 1994 Galway Plate. After he held off the challenge of favourite Idiot's Venture by a length and a half last night, most of the post-race chat revolved around the Ballybrit feature in two weeks.

The 10-year-old has been given 11st 8lb in the long handicap, a fact that trainer Arthur Moore is conscious of. "He still has a lot of ability and I expect he will run in the Plate, but he is up against it with that weight," Moore said. Nevertheless Moore was happy with yesterday's success: "There aren't many opportunities like this and the conditions suited us. Idiot's Venture didn't jump very well which helped."

There were more echoes of Galway when the veteran Athy Spirit turned the years back by winning the Bowler-Londis Handicap Chase by 10 lengths. In his pomp, the 12-year-old managed to win the Galway Hurdle and the big amateur race in the same week. But after a two year lay-off, the Willie Fennin-trained gelding had only one pulled up effort before coming here. "We'll go back to Galway and he could run in the Plate," a delighted Fennin said.