Great gallops rivals into ground in finale

Connections had to slightly alter the plan for Great Trango but got their winner in Galway nonetheless when he landed the concluding two-mile handicap at Ballybrit this evening.

Wayne Lordan gave the 12/1 shot a positive ride and he kicked for home over two furlongs from home.

The Harry Kelly-trained gelding galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a five-and-a-half length victory as Bronagh's Belle came through to chase him home.

The winner had been placed on his five previous outings before tonight.

“I'm delighted. We made a plan last year when Jamie Codd got off him and said he'd a right shot in the big amateur handicap off the low 80s,” said Kelly.

“He had real consistent form but never put his head in front. The last day we really wanted to ride him aggressively but it didn't happen as there was a runaway in the race.

“That was the instructions today, get him out hard. We lucky we didn't get into the amateur race as it was a competitive heat. We were off a nice weight today and we thought we know it know, this is the plan.

“It's great to get a winner here. He's tough, he's the most genuine horse in training, the blinkers just help him travel as he's lazy.”

Lordan added:- "Harry said to jump and go today and wait for no one. He handled the ground well and it's a great time for him to win for the owners.

"He's genuine but just so lazy.

"Harry is a lovely fella, a hard worker and he's well able to train one."

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)