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Meade eyes Galway for Mr Showtime

Noel Meade and Sean FlanaganNoel Meade and Sean Flanagan
© Photo Healy Racing

Mr Showtime booked a ticket to Ballybrit after making all in the opening hurdle race at Downpatrick.

The five-year-old gelding took the five-runner field along under Sean Flanagan but was pressed by Westland Row approaching the last.

However, the 8/13 favourite kept on well up the hill to score by five and a half lengths. Westland Row (11/4) could make no impression in the final furlong and had to settle for second.

Trainer Noel Meade said: "He was entitled to win on the ratings. It all worked out well, it doesn't always but it did today. We always said he would stay further than that although it is possible that a fast run two miles to two and a half is probably more his cup of tea than a three-mile race. Fast ground is essential, he needs to be bouncing off it.

"He probably will win a two mile flat race on fast ground. I didn't even consider it at all but I would think there's a possibility he could run in a two-mile maiden on the flat.

"In the immediate term, I would imagine he will go to Galway for something. I'll probably give him an entry in the Galway Hurdle. I know that sounds a bit adventurous but if he doesn't get into it he doesn't get into it and he probably won't anyway. There's a couple of other races we could run him in there."

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.