Walsh gains sweet Plate compensation

Mark Walsh banished the memory of a cruel defeat last year when giving Bob Lingo a perfectly timed ride to grab glory in thetote.com Galway Plate.

Walsh was just nabbed in the closing stages last year on Wise Old Owl but won in style this time around as his mount stormed home in the testing conditions.

Tom Mullins' charge struggled with a furious early place in the 2m6f showpiece but worked his way into contention at the right time.

The 16/1 shot scraped the paint on the inner throughout as Casey Top cut out the running.

The front-runner was joined over the last two by long-time pursuer Cross Appeal but the pair were tracked through by Bob Lingo.

Walsh got a split between his rivals turning for home and sent his mount on early in the straight.

The Bob Back gelding's stamina came into play and he galloped on strongly to post a five-length success over the front-runner. Blackstairmountain kept on for third without threatening while heavily backed 7/2 favourite Out Now was well-beaten in 11th.

The winner was one of five runners for JP McManus and was giving the leading owner his second winner in three years.

"He's a very difficult horse to train but I felt he was never as fit or as well recently," said Tom Mullins afterwards.

"He can be very hard on himself at home but I felt he was really well coming here.

"He had a great run in Killarney and did a lap of the track afterwards! My only worry was whether he would hold his form as he's had a long season.

"Mark Walsh gave him a peach of a ride as he can be a difficult horse to ride.

"My son David has been riding him at home and has done a good job on him.

"You have to have a lot of luck in the race and he was off the bridle early. I said then any mistake and he could go back and throw the towel in as he's that kind of horse.

"He had a good couple of jumps early and got into it sneakily. Mark knows him very well and it was great to get him as he wouldn't have had a chance without him."

It was a great result for Walsh, who had looked set to collect last year until the dying strides.

"That was brilliant and it made up for last year. I sat a bit longer this year and waited until they turned into the straight.

"He was brilliant. They went a good gallop and that's what he needs. He needs a strong gallop and in that soft ground he'll gallop through it like no other horse.

"He jumped brilliantly. It was a little bit dodgy with the loose getting in my way five and four out but he got me out of trouble."

(On course reporting by Vincent Finegan)