Rio Largo strikes for Comer & McDonogh

Rio Largo was a winner for Galway man Luke Comer in the Claytonhotelgalway.ie Handicap.

The 8/1 chance was held up in rear of mid-division by Declan McDonogh who angled out for a run in the dip. Once in the clear, the homebred son of Dick Whittington picked up well and hit the front well inside the final furlong to beat Quantum Light by a length-and-a-half.

Comer remarked: “I’m delighted to win anytime in Galway and it’s probably as competitive as Cheltenham or Ascot.

“I’m only from down the road in Glenamaddy. It’s always special for me to win at Galway.

“It’s a team effort with a lot of people involved. If you don’t have the team then you don’t have the success, it’s as simple as that.

“Hopefully he might run here again later in the week.”

McDonogh added: "Long week ahead but this is a great start. It's been a lucky place for me over the years and I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I'll be going for my fifth win in the big mile handicap (rides Soaring Monarch). 

"This lad did it well. He was slow away and I had to give him a chance and he came home well. They went sprinting pace and he doesn't have that in his armour and I gave him a chance to find his legs and he finished out the race well.

"He's a good stayer, fit, and handled the ground.

"It's a great local win for Luke. He's a great supporter of the game and a sponsor as well, so a big shout out to him."

Quotes from Alan Magee