Finger Onthe Pulse wins Galway Plate

Aintree Grand National heroes jockey Tony McCoy and owner J.P.McManus combined to win a thrilling renewal of the www.thetote.com Galway Plate with Finger Onthe Pulse at Galway today, marking a return to form for Cheltenham Gold Cup winning trainer Tom Taaffe.

McCoy indeed was a late substitution, for Mark Walsh, on Finger Onthe Pulse, with McManus’ other intended runner Dancing Tornado being withdrawn lame this morning and the 15 times Champion British Jumps Jockey excelled on the half length winner.

Finger Onthe Pulse raced prominently throughout, led from six out, and although he was headed by eventual runner-up Themoonandsixpence before the straight, regained the lead a furlong out, before battling to a famous win.

Afterwards Taaffe, relieved and elated in similar measure, stated “that’s a great result –I had previously won the 1990 Galway Hurdle (Athy Spirit) but this is my first time winning the Plate.”

He added “Finger Onthe Pulse was originally owned by financier Conor Clarkson and won the Jewson Chase at Cheltenham for us.”

“However the horse lost his way and when circumstances changed and Conor needed to sell him (Finger Onthe Pulse was entered but subsequently withdrawn from Doncaster’s Horses In Training Sale in May 2009), I was so so fortunate that J.P. McManus was big enough and bold enough to buy him and leave him in my yard.”

“I also must praise the brilliant winning ride from Tony but must sympathise with Mark Walsh for missing the winning ride. However, Mark understands that Tony McCoy is retained by J.P. McManus.”

Taaffe, whose winnerless spell stretched back to last February, added “it isn’t right to complain when things are not going your way especially in the current economic climate but I just had to wait for things to go my way again and thankfully things changed today. I’d like to thank all my staff at home for doing such a great job with the horse.”

McCoy was subsequently severely cautioned for excessive use of the whip in the closing stages.

Favourite in the race, Majestic Concorde (whose rider Davy Russell himself received a one day suspension for excessive use of the whip), was a good third although stablemate Bobs Pride can be counted an unlucky loser, having fallen at the final fence when still travelling well.

Unfortunately, the race saw one fatality as Dont Be Bitin was subsequently put down having fractured his shoulder.