THETOTE.COM GALWAY

PLATE (GRADE A)

SHANAHAN’S Turn rediscovered the form that looked set to make him such a formidable force over fences as a novice last season to spring a 16/1 surprise for Henry de Bromhead and Jonathan Burke with a flawless display in an eventful runnning of the thetote.com Galway Plate.

It was at this track last September that Burke, whose father Liam won the Plate with Sir Frederick in 2007, made a winning start to his position as retained rider to owners Alan and Ann Potts.

In a fitting piece of symmetry, the 19-year-old returned to Ballybrit to land one of the most coveted prizes in the calendar for his patrons with a expertly judged ride on his resurgent partner.

This success came following an 11-month period which has seen the trainer-owner-rider axis bag top flight triumphs with the likes of Sizing John and Sizing Granite.

For his part Henry de Bromhead had long viewed Shanahan’s Turn as a chaser of real substance and a Grade 2 win at Punchestown last November looked to set him up nicely for a big season over fences. The seven-year-old then lost his way and an unplaced comeback run at Killarney offered little hope of a resurgence heading into one of the most hotly-contested handicaps of the year.

De Bromhead worked the oracle though as Shanahan’s Turn bounced back to form with a display that was characterised by some superb jumping.

From the very outset, the 16/1 chance took up a prominent position as he was able to avoid the early carnage which saw four runners depart at the first two fences.

Sadly two of those fallers, Foildubh and Make A Track, had to be put down while the first-named’s rider, Ryan Treacy, was left with slightly concussed and suffering a collarbone injury. Danny Mullins also suffered a back injury.

From Burke’s point of view the race couldn’t have gone any smoother as his mount winged each fence to maintain a forward position and after the fifth last Burke let him stride to the front.

Shanahan’s Turn had then stolen into quite a decent lead after three out but poised in behind heading into the last two fences was Rule The World.

The latter negotiated two out safely but then appeared to clip a heel and come down before the last and this in turn hampered Shanpallas who was making nice progress at the time.

Shanahan’s Turn and Burke were firmly in the clear at this stage though and the pair set off on the long run for home with a good lead which never looked as though it would bridged.

The Paparrazi Kid led the chase for the duration of the straight but he was still five and a half lengths adrift at the line. The winner’s stablemate Sadler’s Risk took third while Alderwood completed the placings.

“My father was just touched off in this race with Bishops Hall (second to Life Of A Lord in 1996) so it’s great to set the record straight,” said a thrilled de Bromhead.

“His form in the autumn gave him a great chance but his prep run was disappointing I thought. In fairness though nothing got into it from behind that day and Barry Geraghty, who rode him that day, was actually happy with him.

“I didn’t think that they went mad up front so when I saw Johnny let him stride on I was delighted. Johnny is fantastic, he’s an old head on young shoulders and he’s given the horse a fantastic ride.

“Also I’m thrilled for Alan and Ann who have been such wonderful supporters of mine. Ann is in hospital at the moment and I know that this will be a great tonic for her.

“This horse won a Grade 2 last November and I thought that he might be a Grade 1 horse but his run at Christmas nearly killed him and then like an eejit I ran him back in February which was the wrong thing to do.

“We know him a lot better now and hopefully he will make into a Grade 1 horse in time. It’s early days but he might go to Gowran in October for the race Sizing Europe used to win,” concluded the trainer.

Meanwhile a delighted Burke commented: “I was third last year on my first ride in the race when I was a 5lb claimer and to win a race like this at the age of 19 is just phenomenal. I’m very lucky that Alan and Ann Potts have given me a wonderful opportunity to ride some fantastic horses and today brings back a lot of memories from 2007 when my father won the race with Sir Frederick.”

The Cork connections did not end with the jockey as Shanahan’s Turn, a son of Indian Danehill, won his first race in the colours of his breeder Nicky Teehan of Bluegate Stud in Kilkenny, at the Muskerry Foxhounds Dawstown point-to-point in May 2013 when trained by Eugene O’Sullivan.