Ansar completes historic Ballybrit double Ansar became the first horse since Knight Errant in the late 1950’s to win the big two jumping races at the Galway Festival by adding the Hewlett-Packard Galway Plate to his Galway Hurdle win of three years ago.David Casey had the eight-year-old gelding close up on the inner throughout, and struck the front after the last before holding on gamely on the long run-in to beat gallant top-weight Risk Accessor by a length. Manjoe was also prominent for all of the two and three quarter miles finishing just half a length further back in third, while successful trainer Dermot Weld also saddled Direct Bearing to stay on strongly for fourth place.‘Ansar was a bit novicy when fifth in this race last year, and he has been trained since with this race in mind,’ said Weld, recording his third Plate win after Kiichi (1990) and General Idea (’93). ‘David went the long way around on him last year and I wasn’t too happy. He asked me for the ride again on Irish Derby day and I said of course but this time you will go the short way around. He rode a brilliant race.’Weld was also thrilled by the performance of Direct Bearing saying, ‘He was a bit novicy like Ansar was last year but he stays really well and there could be a Grand National in him.’
