Westhaven clears the last under Adrian Heskin© Photo Healy Racing
Noel Meade completed a double on the card at Tipperary as Westhaven took the Live The Dream With Tote Galway Plate Trial Handicap Chase under Adrian Heskin (Meade was earlier successful with Rich Coast .
The six-year-old son of Alhaarth was recording his first win over fences today on his twelfth attempt.
He finished a close-up third on his last try at Punchestown in early June before having a spin on the level at Leopardstown recently.
Available at 16/1 this morning he opened on-course at 14’s before being backed into 10/1 at the off.
Having raced in fourth in the early stages he improved into second with a circuit to go. He came with his challenge before the second last and hit the front and was ridden after that fence.
He was strongly pressed after the last by Big Generator but he pulled out more in the closing stages, going on to score by four lengths.
Big Generator had to settle for second under Paul Townend for Paul Nolan at 4/1 (backed from 5’s on-course) while Shake The Bucket was a further half a length back in third under Ben Dalton for Niall Madden at 7/1 (backed from 10’s on-course).
Rohan’s Pride was sent off the 7/2 favourite under Andrew McNamara for Robert Honner but once headed before the second last he had nothing more to offer and finished fifth.
Nina Carberry said afterwards: "Adrian gave him a great ride. He had a light weight and he was rated to run well.
"He jumped well and the boss will be very happy with that. He was at the Meath match and he’ll feel much better now!
"That's Adrian’s first winner for us and he also had a second for us today (Thomond) so it’s a good start."
STEWARDS REPORTS
B.J. Geraghty, rider of Pat Garrett trained by Noel Meade, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount never travelled.
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Pat Garrett, trained by Noel Meade, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
