Grey horse Call Me Bubbles swoops to conquer at Galway© Photo Healy Racing
From fifth jumping the last in the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle Ruby Walsh conjured up a strong finish from Call Me Bubbles to pip Shamiran to the finishing line.
“Maybe that was the ride of the year so far,” the ring announcer quipped as Call Me Bubbles and Ruby Walsh came back in.
Shamiran was always in the front rank in this two mile six furlongs Grade C contest. He led two out and nimbly jumped the last under David Splaine. From there the big winning pot of 32,500 euro seemed destined for trainer Rodger Sweeney, but Walsh had other ideas.
After clearing the last hurdle in fifth place he closed to third, but when Call Me Bubbles’ progress stalled there Walsh switched his whip through to his left hand and the grey four-year-old was galvanised to power past Shamiran and win a shade snugly by half a length.
“That was a vintage ride from Ruby. Things didn’t go according to plan and I’d say in the end we were on Plan D or Plan E,” successful trainer Willie Mullins said.
“The plan was to be in the first six or seven, but in the end he seemed to appreciate coming from behind when he finally got into a rhythm.
“Obviously he likes a nice dig in the ground and he’ll continue to mix it in staying handicaps on the flat and over hurdles.”
The money was down on Call Me Bubbles as he justified 7/2 favouritism from 7/1 this morning and an opening show of 5/1. Shamiran was returned at 16/1 in second while the well fancied 8/1 shots Security Breach and Benemeade gave their each way supporters some cheer in third and fourth.
Call Me Bubbles clearly relished this step up in trip and put a below par outing behind him when coming in 13th in the big qualified riders’ flat race here on Monday evening.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
