Walsh wins battle of champions

Champion jockeys Ruby Walsh and Tony McCoy fought out a gripping finish to the Signature Novice Hurdle at the Galway Festival, with the former coming out on top aboard Dual Gales.McCoy always appeared confident on even-money favourite Glenstal Abbey, but Walsh tracked him into the straight.There was very little between them jumping the final flight and, with both jockeys in full flight on the run-in, it was the Willie Mullins-trained Dual Gales (11-4) who came out on top by half a length.The Dessie Hughes-trained Montero continued his rise through the ranks with an impressive display in the St James's Gate Novice Chase.The seven-year-old (6-4 favourite) travelled ominously well throughout under Roger Loughran and after taking over from long-time leader Joe Soap at the final fence, stretched away to score by 10 lengths from Aoife Costa.Hughes said: "He's a very good horse and Joe Soap making the running really worked out well for us. The stiff two miles around here really suited him. He will stick to novice chases, rather than handicap chases, as he's a small horse."Whatever Next put up a fine front-running performance to come out on top in the Perfect Pint Beginners Chase.The 14-1 chance jumped and travelled with great zest at the head of affairs under Davy Russell and had all his rivals hard at work approaching the final two obstacles.Despite getting leg-weary on the long run-in, John Murphy's seven-year-old was two lengths ahead of favourite Corrick Bridge, who was tailed off before the turn for home but made up an astonishing amount of ground.Russell said: "The ground is very testing, and very holding, and it's difficult to get out. It was the owner's plan to ride him that way and they told me to be as aggressive as possible. He jumped great throughout."