Comfort Zone wins Galway Day One feature under Derek O'Connor

So often a nearly horse in big field handicaps both over jumps and on the Flat, the Joseph O'Brien trained Comfort Zone gained a deserved success when landing the Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap.

A five-time previous winner, the JP McManus owned gelding had been one of the leading fancies for last years renewal but only beat a few rivals home.

Never too far off the pace here under Derek O'Connor, the 18/1 chance came through to head Too Bossy For Us over 100 yards out, before holding the late run of Holy See by three-quarters-of-a-length.

O'Connor commented: "It's one of those prestigious races to win as an amateur. It's extremely difficult to win. It's so competitive with such a high calibre of amateur rider riding in Ireland at the moment and such a high calibre of horse competing in the race. To get nice rides off Mr. McManus and Joseph O'Brien, you are not tied to instructions so you have a free hand. I jumped nice, travelled nice and I felt the horse was happy in himself, so it worked out great."

Winning trainer Joseph O'Brien said: “It’s fantastic, it was a great ride from Derek.

“We fancied him in the race last year and he didn’t run as well as we had hoped.

“Probably getting a bit of room on the outside there, he got very sweet. The slower ground maybe helped him as well.

“He’s run well here at Galway in the past so you might see him back here at the weekend.

“He’s won a November Handicap and a couple of graded races over hurdles so he’s been a great servant for us.

“He’s been running for big pots for the last while and he’s been knocking on the door and threatening to win one.

“I’m delighted that he did it here today, to win the feature race here on the Monday night is very special and it sets up the week well.

“Derek is a fantastic rider and it was great to have him on board.

“It looked a bit messy during the race and into the dip it looked to be a rough enough race. Derek got a wide run around them.

“I’d have to see it again but a few of them ran a little bit below par, but that’s Galway.”

(Quotes by Gary Carson)