Galway Festival: Shanahan's Turn wins Plate for Henry de Bromhead

Unfancied 16-1 shot puts in gutsy display to take feature race on day three

Shanahan’s Turn produced a gutsy display from the front to run out a convincing winner of the Galway Plate.

Henry de Bromhead’s charge was a relatively unfancied 16-1 chance after a couple of disappointing efforts recently, but he travelled sweetly for Johnny Burke, sharing the pacemaking duties with Baily Green.

Burke was happy to go clear after the third-last and looked to have the race sewn up after jumping the final two fences well, and though The Paparrazi Kid gave chase up the long run-in, he was still five and a half lengths behind at the line.

De Bromhead’s excellent day was boosted as his Sadler’s Risk also took third, with Alderwood in fourth.

READ MORE

De Bromhead said: “That’s deadly. We were hoping we’d get back to our form last autumn and if he did he looked in off a good mark.

“His prep run was disappointing, but a lot of horses didn’t get into that race and obviously he’s more of a stayer.

“Funnily enough the one person who wasn’t disappointed then was Barry Geraghty. He was delighted and said he was good.

“I’m delighted to win this and delighted for Anne and Alan Potts. Anne is in hospital at the moment and I know that will be a real tonic for her.

“They’ve been amazing supporters over the years and I really appreciate it.

“My father was just touched off in this race with Bishops Hall so it’s great to set that little record straight. It’s such a famous race so it’s great to get our name on the board.

“I always felt he was a Graded horse. He won his Grade Two, it probably wasn’t the greatest Grade Two, but he won it.

“Then he hit soft ground and we made a couple of mistakes with him. We know him now.

“He could go for the race Sizing Europe won the last few years at Gowran and hopefully he can develop into a Grade One horse.

“It was brave of Johnny to do that and let him roll. I was delighted when I saw him do it, win, lose or draw.

“The jockeys tell me what they are thinking before the race and unless I completely disagree with them I let them off as they are top riders.”

He added: “I was delighted with Sadler’s Risk. He stayed on really well and Andrew (Lynch) gave him a great ride.

“That was his first handicap and it was some run. His jumping early was a bit novicey.

“We’re a little tied with him as he doesn’t go left-handed so the Kerry National is out, but there are plenty more good races.”

For the third day running Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh teamed up to take the opening race, this time with Thomas Hobson.

A faller on his debut for Mullins, he was soon at the head of affairs, but there was a scare or two approaching the business end, in particular two out, and he was pressed hard from the last by Stuccodor.

But in the end the 11-10 favourite, who was a smart handicapper on the Flat for John Gosden, proved too strong, taking the two-mile contest by four lengths.

Mullins said: “He improved his jumping a lot, but there is still a bit more to do.

“We decided to take the game to the others. There were a couple of maidens in the field with a few runs and we wanted to make it a test of stamina.

“We were happy that his jumping was better, it appeared to be at home and was for most of the race.

“We decided to ride him differently and let him off up there. There didn’t appear to be much pace and we were happy to make it. We let him enjoy himself and he did.

“I was disappointed with what he did three out and that seemed to knock his confidence at the second-last.

“He could go back on the Flat as there are very few novice races in the near future.”

Jockey Mark Enright struck for the second time this week as he produced Lilly The Lioness (8-1) to perfection in the Download The Tote Mobile App European Breeders Fund Mares Handicap Hurdle.

Dazzing Susie cut out much of the early running before being joined by Supreme Vic and that pair jumped two out just in front.

Enright and Lilly The Lioness soon appeared on the scene, however, and powered to the front going to the last.

Showing a willing attitude from there, the Garrett Power-trained winner had enough in reserve to hold the fast-finishing 11-2 co-favourite Crystal Earth by a length and a quarter.

Power said: “She has a heart like a lion. Things didn’t go according to plan. She hung and didn’t jump 100 per cent.

“Mark gave her a brilliant ride and she’s a tough, gutsy mare. I thought I’d missed my chance in this race last year and it’s great to get a second chance.

“She’s first reserve in a Flat race here tomorrow and is in on Friday in a handicap hurdle.

“That’s my first winner as a trainer here, although I did ride a winner here.”

Powersbomb was a 12-1 winner of the Tote 40,000 Euro Jackpot Guarantee Handicap Hurdle for trainer Brian McMahon and jockey Mikey Fogarty.
The Sligo bumper winner had failed to get seriously competitive in six previous attempts over hurdles, most recently being brought down at Down Royal at the end of May.
On this occasion, however, the five-year-old moved ominously into contention and after taking the lead on the run to the final flight, careered away for an emphatic four-and-three-quarter-length victory.
Bank Bonus was best of the rest in second, ahead of Coldstonesober and Holeinthewall Bar in third and fourth respectively.
“I thought he had a right chance off a mark of 103. He was working well at home and just needed to put it all together. The hood helped him relax,” said McMahon.
“Jerry McGrath said in Down Royal that he had travelled as well as he’s ever travelled, before he was brought down, and was staying on, so I thought the extra four furlongs suited him.
“He won in Sligo and it’s similar here. He was my first winner when winning in Sligo and it’s almost 12 months to the day.
“It’s been an up and down year, but to win in Galway is fantastic. The owners are fairly local and have been with me since day one.
“My dad passed away during the year and was a great supporter of mine so he might have had something to do with it. His own horse runs on Sunday so we’re looking for the double.”

GALWAY RESULTS
3.0
1st Thomas Hobson 11-10 Fav
2nd Stuccodor 13-8
3rd The Welsh Wizard 12-1

3.35
1st Lily The Lioness 8-1
2nd Crystal Earth 11-2 Jt Fav
3rd Damefirth 11-2 Jt Fav
4th  Give Her back 11-1

4.10
1st Powersbomb 12-1
2nd Bank Bonus 9-1
3rd ;Coldstonesober 10-1
4th  Holeinthewallbar 14-1

4.45
1st Time To Inspire 11-10 Fav
2nd Catalyst 7-1
3rd Hudson's Bay 16-1

5.30
1st Shanahan's Turn 16-1
2nd The Paparrazi Kid 12-1
3rd Sadler's Risk 16-1
4th Alderwood 20-1
5th Shanpallas 6-1

6.05
1st Bribe The Bouncer 16-1
2nd Plough Boy 13-2
3rd War Anthem 8-1
4th Camlann 6-1