Tony smiling after eight

Tony Martin emerged as the leading Meath trainer at Galway this year with eight winners after Busted Tycoon completed a remarkable hat-trick at Ballybrit by winning the Mares Handicap Hurdle this afternoon less than 24 hours after winning on the flat at the track.

The John Breslin-owned Busted Tycoon also won on Tuesday and today was sent off as the 11/10 favourite to win over the minor obstacles for Ruby Walsh.

Walsh made his move approaching the second last and after the last overhauled the leader for a half-length winning margin.

The victory completed a six-in-a-row after wins at Tramore last April and in the UK at Uttoxeter and Scotland (Perth) in June plus three in six days at Galway.

A total of 127,568 patrons paid through the turnstiles this year - a drop of more than 4,600 on the 132,215 who attended in 2012.

The crowd for today was 13,344, an increase on the 2012 attendance of 12,557.

Conall Collier