The number two last year Ndaawi was called the winner of the Guinness Galway Hurdle after the post Helvic Dream was first relegated by the stewards.
It is 20 years since trainer Noel Meade saddled his most recent winner of the Ballybrit -height point in more rainbows, but since then he had come close several times, while Ndaawi’s trainer Gordon Elliott had never won it before.
Helvic Dream, a group one winner on the flat for Meade in the 2021 Tattersalls Gold Cup, was an 8-1 shot in the hands of Donagh Meyler and settled with the 13-2 shot Ndaawi and Jack Kennedy in the house.
However, the couple came together completely in the run-in, because both horses and jockeys gave everything, with Ndaawi short of space against the distant rail, and while Helvic Dream passed the pole, a head on the front felt the stewards that the interference was important enough to turn the placements.
Elliott, who completed a double-race double after landing with Wednesday with Western Fold, said: “We won most of the major handicaps, so this is the race that I wanted to win, although it is not a nice way to win.
“Noel is one of my greatest friends and not a day goes by that we don’t talk and we have a lot of chatter, but that is the way it is unfortunately.
“The stewards have their job to do, Jack said it immediately after the race and I also spoke with Ruby (Walsh) and he felt that we would certainly get it.
“It is incredible to win the two big races here this week and the horses all went well, I can’t believe it.”
On future plans for NDAawi, the trainer added: “There is now a flat race of $ 150,000 in America in October.”
Meade later indicated that he appeals the decision.
He said Racing TV: “I didn’t think we would lose it, given the race and given that Jack didn’t have to stop driving.
“I really believe in my heart and soul, it is the wrong decision and I will appeal.”
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