Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

THE ANNUAL GALWAY Festival kicked off at Ballybrit racecourse this afternoon with several Irish international rugby players making the trip.

Munster pair Dave Kilcoyne and Conor Murray hung out with Leinster’s Fergus McFadden while recently-retired flanker Stephen Ferris, Connacht winger Tiernan O’Halloran and his former team-mate Dan Parks were also among the estimated 19,000 punters present.

Ridden by Paul Townsend, McKinley (7-1) won the first race of seven today, the Radissonhotelgalway.com & Galwaybayhotel.com Novice Hurdle, before the Henry De Bromhead-trained Beckwith Star claimed the Easyfix Rubber Products Handicap Hurdle.

4-9 favourite Jamaica earned father and son duo Aidan and Joseph O’Brien victory in the claregalway.ie European Breeders Fund Maiden ahead of Dermot Weld’s Postulation (5-2).

Next up was the Connacht Hotel (QR) Handicap, which Quick Jack won to hand trainer Tony Martin and jockey Steven Clements their second consecutive triumph in the race after they had joy with Edeymi last year.

Expensive Taste (12-1) took the Claytonhotelgalway.ie Handicap before Timiyan (3-1) got Weld his first winner of the week in the the Pillo Hotel Handicap before Princely Conn (7-1) claimed the Colm Quinn BMW Flat Race.

Jockey Brian Hayes onboard Beckwith Star wins on his way to winning the Easyfix Rubber Products Handicap Hurdle. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Leinster's Fergus McFadden with Munster's David Kilcoyne and Conor Murray. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Former Connacht and Scotland international rugby player Dan Parks with Connacht rugby player Tiernan O'Halloran. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Former Ulster and Ireland International rugby player Stephen Ferris, with trainer Jessica Harrington and former Munster and Ireland International rugby player Alan Quinlan. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Jockey Steven Clements with the plate after winning The Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap onboard Quick Jack. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Trainer Tony Martin (centre) with owners Debbie Breslin (left) and John Breslin (right) celebrate in the parade ring after winning with Quick Jack. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Results on Day 1:

5:10 Radissonhotelgalway.com & Galwaybayhotel.com Novice Hurdle

1. McKinley 7/1
2. Ridestan 12/1
3. Morga 3/1

5:40 Easyfix Rubber Products Handicap Hurdle

1. Beckwith Star 12/1
2. Eric The Grey 20/1
3. Donatis Comet 12/1
4. Kims Dream 12/1

6:10 claregalwayhotel.ie (C & G) European Breeders Fund Maiden

1. Jamaica 4/9F
2. Postulation 5/2
3. Seaforth 33/1

6:45 Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap

1. Quick Jack 4/1F
2. Grecian Tiger 7/1
3. Fire Fighter 14/1
4. Spacious Sky 20/1

7:15 Claytonhotelgalway.ie Handicap

1. Expensive Taste 12/1
2. Botanical Lady 11/2
3. Princess Aloof 10/1

7:45 Pillo Hotel Handicap

1. Timiyan 3/1
2. Resiliency 11/2
3. Primogeniture 5/2F

8:15 Colm Quinn BMW Flat Race

1. Princely Conn 7/1
2. Call Vinnie 5/4F
3. Old Storm 7/1

We’ll leave it there so: Galway Races begin, Southampton exodus continues and all today’s sport

Two Cork men embarking on 2,068km triathlon around Ireland to raise cancer research funds