Grimes gallops home with Plate

"He's big and strong and powerful", just like a Limerick hurler, said Eamon Grimes when the horse named after him won the Galway…

"He's big and strong and powerful", just like a Limerick hurler, said Eamon Grimes when the horse named after him won the Galway Plate in fine style yesterday.

Its owner, J.P. McManus, was the secretary of the South Liberties GAC when Eamon Grimes captained the team that won the All-Ireland hurling final in 1973.

"J.P. always said he'd name a horse after me but he had to wait for the right one. Four years ago, he told me he'd found one and I've followed the horse to every race since."

On a handy weight, Grimes was regarded by many as the sure thing of the meeting.

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He saw off the 7-1 shot Quinze and last year's winner, Dovaly.

There was a massive cheer in the winners' enclosure for the triumphant horse and jockey, Conor O'Dwyer.

The pair might have to do it all again today. Grimes seems set to run in the Guinness Handicap Hurdle.

Could he pull off a famous double?

J.P. McManus wasn't speculating yesterday.

"Let's celebrate this win first."