Duke battles back to take Galway Plate Trial

The Jessica Harrington trained Sandymount Duke just prevailed in the feature at Down Royal this evening, thetote.com Galway Plate Trial Handicap Chase.

The now nine time winner was successful on his last start at Punchestown in May, and was well-fancied to follow-up this evening, going off the clear 7/4 favourite.

Sent straight to the front by Robbie Power, he was pushed along and headed before two out, however he battled back gamely under pressure from the last, getting up in the closing stages to prevail by a head. Net D'Ecosse was the one just denied. The Noel Meade trained gelding kept on well after the last, but just failed to reel in the winner, and had to settle for second at 6/1 under Jonathan Moore. Devils Bride (12/1), who hit the front before the second last was another half a length back in third with Dylan Robinson in the saddle for Henry De Bromhead.

Robbie Power said afterwards: "He's always been tough but I mean I was going as hard as I could. I would have loved to have had something to push me along a bit faster.

"He got headed at the second last, he was a bit slow at that. I knew a good jump at the last and I would get back past Devils Bride.

"I didn't know what was coming behind me, the gallop we had gone I didn't think there was a whole lot coming behind. He's all heart, he's not the quickest horse in the world but he's all heart."

When asked if the Galway Plate would suit him, Power added: "Well, I think the English National could suit him. He'll be better going left-handed, he jumps like a buck."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham