Racing: Paul Townend landed a fairytale first success since returning from injury when driving Blazing Tempo home in thetote.com Galway Plate. He brought the well-backed mare from the last to collar Wise Old Owl in the last 100 yards and end trainer Willie Mullins's wait to win this valuable handicap chase.
It was also a first win in the race for the Irish champion jockey, who only returned on Monday after fracturing his collarbone at Punchestown in May.
The early pace was cut out by Back Of The Pack, last year’s winner FingerOnthePulse, Archie Boy and Schindler’s Gold.
Head Of The Posse was an early casualty while Majestic Concorde was pulled up after a bad mistake at the fence in front of the stands as they set out for the final circuit.
The well-fancied Bahrain Storm fell as the race began to unfold and there were plenty in with chances at the final fence, where Lucky Wish came down for the second year running.
Wise Old Owl was left with a handy lead but Townend saw that the gamble on Blazing Tempo was won as he carried the 5-1 favourite home by a length and a quarter from the 13-2 shot.
Aigle D’Or, trained by Nicky Henderson, was third with Hampshire Express fourth.
Townend said: “It’s a kick start for the rest of the year and a it’s dream come true to win the Galway Plate. It’s nice to get the first winner out of the way.
“I had a minor mishap on the gallop this morning, but it turned out grand and it’s all better now. It was the Galway Plate. We needed a lot of luck in running today. She had a nice run in the Jewson at Cheltenham. Ruby (Walsh) said she gave him a good feel round Punchestown as well.
“She was right on the day and fair play to Willie, she was spot on. I was lucky. Everything fell right for me. I got a clear run everywhere. I just pulled out a little bit down the hill and let her see the last two fences.
“It was plain sailing for me really. I kept out of trouble. She’s tough, she put her head down and galloped for me. He had a couple of lengths on me, but I was confident, once I had her straightened and balanced and racing for me, that I would catch him.”
Mullins added: “Her last run at Punchestown was good and it was great to get in here off a real racing weight.
“Paul gave me a fright when he was on his back schooling this morning, but thankfully both himself and that horse were fine. My three runners today could all go for the Kerry National, and this mare may possibly be a Hennessy horse.
“She stays better now than she used to.”
The result was bad news for Paddy Power, as they had offered Blazing Tempo at 8-1 earlier in the day.
Paddy Power said: “There was a mother and father of a gamble on Blazing Tempo and then all of the relatives joined in too. It was a dreadful result for the layers.”
Dermot Weld sealed a hat-trick of wins as Font Of Wisdom (30-100 favourite) landed the closing Tote Return All Profits To Irish Racing Maiden.
The trainer had earlier been on the mark with Galileo's Choice (4-6 favourite) in the Tote Pick Six Maiden Hurdleand Maunsells Duke (11-2) in the www.totegoracingclub.com Handicap.