Job done - Tony McCoy, John Kiely and Carlingford Lough© Photo Healy Racing
Victorious in the Galway Hurdle in the past with Black Queen and Indian Pace, trainer John Kiely landed www.thetote.com Galway Plate as owner J P McManus registered his sixth Ballybrit highlight seeing his runners fill the first three places – Carlingford Lough (Tony McCoy, his 2nd Plate), Quantativeeasing (Niall 'Slippers' Madden) and Jacksonslady (Barry Geraghty).
Of course another of his intended participants, Like Your Style came out due to the change in ground allowing first reserve Carlingford Lough his chance under Tony McCoy.
Backed from 5/1 into 7/2 favourite on course, the victorious King's Theatre gelding, a maiden over fences coming here was 'marked down' by many as beaten with a couple of less than convincing jumps.
However he fought tenaciously for McCoy, leading a furlong out going on to score by a length and a half and seven and a half lengths. Muirhead did best of the non-J P McManus runners to finish fourth.
Kiely disclosed: "I never thought I'd do it (win a Plate) but when you have an owner like Mr McManus you have a chance. He has good horses and he has the patience for it.
"This horse had stiffness in his joints and back – just niggly problems.
"You can't train them for a race unless you have the horse and with the ground not right in Killarney we took him out.
"I was disappointed at first when he was only first reserve but I thought there'd be a few non-runners with the ground changing. Indeed I didn't think the ground would be ideal for us either.
"I've won a Plate now and two hurdles so it doesn't get much better than that – I can retire now.
"It'll depend on Mr Berry as to where this horse goes next. He won't run in the winter anyway as the ground will be too soft."
McManus racing manager Frank Berry remarked: "It's brilliant. I didn't know how he'd go when the rain came but he got a great ride from A P and stayed on well up the hill."
McManus himself said: "I was watching my other runners for most of it but in the end A P lifted his fella home. It's just great to win it."
Meanwhile Enda Bolger, handler of the second home, Quantativeeasing, commented: "I was hoping for a nice run and he performed super.
"It's my third time finishing second here as Lucky Town was runner-up twice. Quantativeeasing could be one for the La Touche next year." (TW & EM)
