Ride of the day
Getting into a handy position from word go has been key to winning the Galway Plate lately, and Dan King’s positivity aboard King Alexander was one of the most crucial parts of the victory. Yes, his mount jumped and travelled, but he got a coveted position without all that much hassle.
Performance of the day
Strictly on figures, it was a smart showing from King Alexander to win the main event off a mark of 140. However, there was a striking impression created by Abbotsford in the qualified riders’ maiden and he falls into the ‘could be anything’ bracket for Dermot Weld.
Market mover of the day
Usually this goes to a well-backed winner, but a drifter was the wildest market mover of the day. Having been a 7/2 shot in the morning, Venusienne was absolutely friendless and returned at 11/1 (Betfair SP of 20/1), before bolting up in the mares’ handicap hurdle under Harry Cobden.
In the same event, runner-up Fratas was the subject of a strong punt (SP 4/1 favourite from a morning price of 12/1 and an opening ring show of 17/2).
Morning shows of 22/1 about Noel Meade’s Golden Temple in the two-mile-six-furlong handicap disappeared and he ran a cracker in second at 5/1. In the same contest, John Cullen’s Cornmarket finished down the field at 9/1 (from a morning price of 22/1 and an opening ring show of 16/1).
Layers couldn’t give Daddy Long Legs away in the qualified riders’ maiden, drifting from 100/30 in the ring out to 6/1 (Betfair SP of 8.21) before finishing third. Moonlit Sun was strong in the three-year-old handicap immediately after (6/1 to 7/2 favourite) but came up less than a length short in fourth.
Late confidence in Cock And Bull in the last proved well founded, returning the 7/2 joint-favourite from an opening ring price of 11/2. That said, fellow market leader Ben Hur (third) had been a 12/1 shot in the morning before coming home with an SP of 7/2.
In-running carnage of the day
Conyers Hill has been a thorn in the side of his in-running backers. While he has won three times in his career, he has also tasted defeat after trading at odds-on in five different races. In rattling home for a terrific second in the Plate, he went close to doing the same again, hitting a fraction above even-money from an SP of 25/1.
Jeroboam Machin (10/1) traded close to even-money in the opening maiden hurdle only to be caught late by Mr Hollywood. In the nightcap, Wahrann, from an SP of 28/1, hit the same short price in second, while third-placed Ben Hur went close to 1/3 in third.
Eyecatcher of the day
Behind an impressive J.P. McManus-owned winner, mares’ handicap hurdle third Emesteraye made excellent late gains and shouldn’t be forgotten about when returning to the track. She’s pretty low mileage, had the right two horses in front of her and looks nailed on to win races going forward.
Stat of the day
Galway can be a difficult track for young jockeys to get a handle of, but flat apprentice Sam Coen is getting a tune out of his mounts around here. Having recorded his first Galway win last summer when dead-heating on Castleheath, he was again seen to good effect aboard Cock And Bull in the finale on day three.
This success meant that from 10 rides at the Galway Festival, Coen has registered two winners, three seconds, a third, a fourth and a fifth - 80% of his rides picking up a cheque.
Quote of the day
“We’re lucky to have had Dan King on board, what a tremendous ride for a young fellow. Is that his 13th winner this month? For a guy who hasn’t got a big stable behind him, that’s some achievement” - Willie Mullins tips his cap to the Tote Galway Plate-winning jockey.