J.P. McManus' Far From Trouble, named after his owner's attitude to trivial horse racing problems, denied Ansar a historic third win in the William Hill Galway Plate in front of 28,817 racegoers (up 800 on last year) at Galway this afternoon.
Tony McCoy had been booked to ride the Christy Roche trained gelding but fractured his right wrist following Sporting Limerick's fatal fall in an earlier race, providing super-sub jockey Roger Loughran, 26, with his biggest career win.
Far From Trouble raced in mid division, was fifth jumping the last before staying on well under a strong drive to get his head in front one furlong out, defeating record seeking Ansar by a 1 1/2l.
Afterwards, Roche revealed 'Far From Trouble is a horse who bursts blood vessels but he gets away with it on better ground. Although I was really confident before the race, he wouldn't have run on firm ground.'
He added 'Tony (McCoy) thought he was going to win the Irish National before falling and he advised us to run here.'
According to Roche, Loughran 'began his career with me. I lent him out to trainer Dessie Hughes one day to give him a hand with hay and when he came back to me later that evening, he told me he had taken a job with Dessie!'
Loughran, who endured some unwanted headlines last Christmas, immediately wished McCoy a speedy recovery and also mentioned Roche's injured stable jockey Alan Crowe, who himself may have been available for the ride.
Michael O'Brien's Banasan suffered fatal injuries following a fall at the fourth last fence in the race.
Far From Trouble's win was McManus' second of the evening, following Moratorium's success in the William Hill 1800 333 555 Handicap, for trainer Noel Meade.
Meade later praised Fran Berry's winning ride, saying 'Fran gave him one hell of a ride as he needs to be ridden with patience.'
Meade was himself completing a double, with his Ecole D'Art winning the opening William Hill In Ireland Hurdle, under a good front running ride from Denis O'Regan, substituting for the injured Paul Carberry (bruised foot).
Meade later revealed 'Ecole D'Art has only one eye and he's better off out on his own in front, which seems to give him more confidence; he will go for a novice hurdle next and is much better on fast ground.'
Charlie Swan's Rory's Sister landed the williamhill.ie Handicap Hurdle, under David Casey.
Afterwards Swan mentioned 'Rory's Sister was hampered at Kilbeggan on her last run but seems to like the track at Galway. The ground was possibly too heavy for her during the winter.'
Pat Flynn's Worldly Wise landed the williamhillcasion.com Handicap under Danny Grant, while Aidan O'Brien recorded his first winner of the meeting, with Born For Glory, under J.P. Magnier, in the qualified riders' maiden.
Biggest cheer of the night was reserved for jockey Kieren Fallon and Flying Knight who landed a gamble (6/1 - 9/4) to win the williamhill.com Handicap for Kildare restricted trainer Noel Lawlor.
Thomas Weekes.
