Gordon Elliott enhanced a fantastic record in the Tote Galway Plate when Western Fold became his fifth win in the last 10 renewals of the race and, for local rider Danny Gilligan, it was a second win in the race, two years on from Ash Tree Meadow’s success.
It was an eventful race, with a couple of horses all but left at the start, a few fallers and unseats, and some indifferent rounds of jumping but, for the winner, it was plain sailing.
That ties in with the summer the six-year-old has had as he made the breakthrough over fences in a beginners’ chase at Tipperary, on what was his sixth outing over fences, and followed up by winning the Mayo National at Ballinrobe.
An extra 10lbs on his mark were no burden to him as he travelled like a dream this time, eased to the front before the turn for home, and had matters in control as he raced up the straight, chased hard by the remarkable Jesse Evans.
“I really can’t believe it,” said Gilligan. “I thought, when I won it two years ago, that that would be me, but to come back and finish second in it last year and come back and win in this year, it’s unbelievable. I’m lost for words.
“Just to be riding in these races is a massive privilege and I can’t thank Gordon and his owners enough for giving me the chance. Just delighted when it works out.
“He has great luck in this race, which is a big help for us, and he’s so easy to ride for. He leaves it up to us. He knows the story in these big races, that you could go out with a plan and it can change very quickly. There’s no pressure going out and I can’t thank him enough.”
Explaining his mount’s upsurge in form, he added: “Since he’s got his nice ground, he’s really starting to improve with every run. I wasn’t sure after the last day, when he got a bit of a hike for winning in Ballinrobe, but I knew he had a live chance, and he proved today that he’s a top-quality horse.
“Days like this are what we dream of, and I just can’t believe it.”
Runner-up Jesse Evans has raced at this track six times and counts a beginners’ chase at the September meetings as his sole success. However, in the five runs at this meeting he has finished runner-up in two Galway Hurdles, been fourth in another, and now runner-up in a Galway Plate. Whether you view that as good fortunate or desperately bad, he is a remarkable horse, and surely a joy to own and train.
“He ran a belter again,” said his trainer, Noel Meade. “It’s hard to believe that he’s been second in two Galway Hurdles and now a Galway Plate.
“He just ran too free early today. Everything went right, we got away at the started where we wanted but every time he landed at a fence he wanted to go again. He just half ran himself into the ground, I’d say. The last half furlong caught him out.
“He ran a great race, jumped brilliantly, and got a great ride. I can’t say a bad word about it at all. The 3lb he picked up at Punchestown might just have cost him a little bit too, but there you go. He definitely won’t run in the Hurdle tomorrow.”
Down Memory Lane’s lack of experience appeared to tell as he was unable to respond appropriately when Mark Walsh asked him up at many of his fences, while Nurburgring was in trouble early, with a mistake ensuring he remained off the pace and facing an uphill battle.