Soft ground proves crucial for Victor's Choice

Victor’s Choice benefitted from an opportunistic ride by Robert Whearty to take the Arthur Guinness Handicap at Galway.

The Adrian Murray-trained filly, successful on soft ground at Gowran in May, appreciated the rain-softened ground here but appeared to have plenty to do approaching the home straight.

However, Whearty threaded a path through on the rail to lead 150 yards out and the 16/1 chance kept on well to score by a length and a half. Nans View took the runner-up spot with Abbey Actress a further half-a-length away in third and Martinelli completed the places in fourth.

Murray said, "That's brilliant. Everything worked out fantastic as she needs a nice bit of ease in the ground. We were praying for rain and it just came at the right time for her. We were coming here very confident when we seen the rain.

“There is a big crew follows this filly, all the Fosters and McLoughlins are involved in her.

“She had a great run here last October when she was second, she was unlucky not to win. That was on soft to heavy ground so we knew she handled the track and all we needed was a bit of ease in the ground.”

Quotes by Gary Carson