Lingo lands Plate for
McManus and Mullins
Report: Galway, Wednesday
www.thetote.com Galway Plate Handicap Chase 2m6f, 4yo+
BOB LINGO pounced late on long-time leader Casey Top to give trainer Thomas Mullins victory in the Galway Plate a year after his brother Willie took the race.
Ridden by Mark Walsh for JP McManus, the 16-1 chance travelled smoothly into contention and took up the running in the home straight to stride clear of Casey Top. Blackstairmountain was third with Cross Appeal fourth.
Apart from Jamsie Hall proving a handful for jockey Paddy Brennan at the start and forfeiting plenty of ground and his chance there was little incident in the race as Casey Top led the runners around.
Approaching the turn for home, he was still going well but Ruby Walsh had snuck Blackstairmountain up into contention, while Wise Old Owl was also bang there for Tony McCoy.
However, neither was going as well as Bob Lingo - sporting the yellow cap of owner JP McManus, who had five runners in the race - and he moved up to tackle the leader in the home straight.
Bob Lingo moved past Casey Top with ease and allowed Walsh the chance to celebrate crossing the line with a forceful flick of the whip in the air.
Mullins, who was winning his first Galway Plate, said: "He was off a lovely weight but he's a difficult horse to train. He had a bit of a problem earlier in the year but we sorted that out. We knew he was well and knew he would give it a good go."
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