O'Donnell on the mark with well-backed Dragon

The well-backed Dragon Of Malta claimed the Galway Handicap under Shane Foley for Co Limerick trainer Pat O'Donnell.

A dual winner last year, the son of Dragon Pulse had been ultimately disappointing this campaign and was ninth of fourteen behind Royal Pippen on his most recent start at Roscommon.

Available at 16/1 in early shows, the four-year-old eventually went off a 5/1 joint-favourite in the colours of the Gzira Syndicate.

Never far off the pace under Shane Foley, the bay victor was pushed along to challenge from the two-furlong pole.

He was ridden to lead inside the final 150 yards and kept on well in the closing stages to score by two-and-a-quarter lengths. Navorrosse who was the other 5/1 joint-favourite, finished second under Kevin Manning for Pat Fahy, while Talking Tough (8/1) was a head back in third.

O'Donnell, who was recording his second winner of the season, said: "We did our dough here last year when he was unlucky having had a bad break but he did handle the track.

"The ground was a worry but he had come forward massively from Roscommon. Shane (Foley) said he gave a massive heave in Roscommon so we were confident enough that he'd come forward and he has done.

"He is a strange horse who comes to form at this time of the year - you'd associate that mostly with fillies but he definitely was under the weather and lethargic early in the season. He is fairly buzzing now.

"We've had half a dozen runners this year, a few syndicates came together and Peter Keogh, who is a big help, joined me with three horses. He rides out in the morning before going to work and is responsible for those horses being around the place.

"I've done my tour of duty (re training) and you only leave the show room once, but you never turn down business!"

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Stewards requested a report from P.F.O'Donnell, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Dragon Of Malta, placed first, as compared with its recent form. P.F. O'Donnell reported that he acquired this gelding as a two year old and explained that his form had peaked during the autumn period each season. He added that his charge, in his opinion, had run a good race the last day at Roscommon on the 16th August when having to be ridden towards the rear when racing from draw fourteen on the wide outside. He further explained that today his charge jumped out smart from draw two close to the inside and raced in the front rank from flag fall. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes