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Last Ammo hits the target at 40/1

Last Ammo (right) takes aim at Mon Coeur  Last Ammo (right) takes aim at Mon Coeur
© Photo Healy Racing

There was another 'turn up for the books' in the third of the evening at Galway as 40/1 chance Last Ammo (14s overnight) stayed on best under Jack Kearney to win the Follow @thetotecom Today Handicap.

Two pulled clear of the field with a quarter of a mile to race and in the straight the Teofilo gelding, bought out of Charlie Appleby's yard for £10,000 last autumn, found more to move past Mon Coeur and beat that rival by a length-and-three-quarters with a yawning gap of 13 lengths back to Walking On Glass in third.

Winning trainer Richard O'Brien said: “It's terrific. It's great for the lads (Rock Bar Syndicate) who are great local supporters of mine.

“This is massive and it's huge for all of us to be honest. I'm very grateful for the support.

“We felt we should come to Galway as that's what a syndicate horse is all about and there was an element of a social runner with him.

“I got it completely wrong with this fella as I thought he wanted very fast ground. I didn't expect him to handle the ground but obviously I'm wrong and he probably wants a bit of juice in it.

“It's a much improved performance and Jack's 7lb is huge. He gave him a beautiful ride all the way, never got checked at any stage.

“We have great luck together, Jack and myself.”

Kearney tod RTE: "It's very special to ride a winner here the week of the festival. My mother is from Galway and is here today with all her connections so it's nice to get them a winner.

"Richard left it up to me. The plan was jump, be in the middle of them, give him a bit of time to get into the race. I was chatting to Dylan (Browne McMonagle), he rode him the last day, and he said he loves the hustle and bustle and you get plenty of it around here.

"We took our time and I watched the race unfold ahead of me. Coming down the hill I gave him a bit of a breather and I tracked Gary Carroll into the straight and, in fairness to him, he toughed it out well. 

"We didn't hit the front too soon which was ideal. The lads kind of went out coming down the hill, I could see it all happening in front of me, I kept my position one off the rail and he done it nicely.

"I'm based with Ger Lyons, he's very good to me and has given me plenty of opportunities and I learn plenty in there."

Quotes from Gary Carson

1st
40/1
Tote €48.00 €7.50
2nd
1.75L
8/1
€2.00
3rd
13L
22/1
€4.30
4th
hd
18/1
€3.70
bf
7L
5/2Fav
About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.