€850 buy Hewick survives interference in dramatic win for magic man Hanlon

Wednesday: Galway Plate, Galway

Shark Hanlon has a knack of polishing uncut gems and you'd wonder if he might one day turn water into wine after Hewick overcame the distraction of a wayward loose horse to cling on in a dramatic running of the Tote Galway Plate under rising star Jordan Gainford.

Bought at Goresbridge sales – hardly one of the elite thoroughbred auction houses – for a paltry €850 as a two-year-old, Hewick had already claimed a famous success under Gainford in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April. Chinned over hurdles at Ballinrobe in the interim, the seven-year-old was back at the peak of his powers here over this shorter trip.

Under 11st 7lb, his triumph constituted the most impressive weight-carrying performance in the €270,000 feature since Galway legend Ansar shouldered 11st 11lb to glory in 2005.

The official margin of victory was half a length, but that doesn't remotely reflect the bedlam that ensued as Hewick was hassled to the inside rail as the riderless Exelerator Express, who had been brought down by A Wave Of The Sea at the third, careered around.

All the while, Darasso was coming with a wet sail under Luke Dempsey down the outside, but in the end the line came in the nick of time for Hewick. He returned at odds of 16-1, although Hanlon's popularity ensured the requisite dash of carnage ensued in the winner's enclosure.

"I've been coming here all my life and to win this race is special," gushed an emotional Hanlon. "This and the Kerry National are very special to me and I've both of them won now – I might head back to Kerry with this lad now!

Shark Hanlon and Jordan Gainford celebrate after the Galway PlateCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"For everyone at home it's great. My mother and father haven't been racing for three years and they are here today. It's great for everyone. Ours is a small yard and the game is going very tough – everyone knows the price of feed and the price of everything now. It's getting harder every day, but to come and win this is unreal."

Having poached Skyace out of Willie Mullins' yard for £600 before turning her into a Grade 1 winner, Hanlon's record with horses other people don't want is remarkable. Ironically, it was Mullins' father Paddy who was an early influence on him when it came to selecting stock.

"He was a lovely walking horse," he said of this TJ McDonald-owned star. "Paddy Mullins said to me years ago that if a horse can't walk he can't run. I went to the sales to buy another horse and I met this horse coming in the back gate.

"I went home for a bit of grub and started thinking about the horse. Then, I came back and bought him. It's been a dream since then."

The champion trainer was responsible for the favourite El Barra, who tired into third late on with Gordon Elliott's strong-travelling Ash Tree Meadow fourth.

Elliott had released Gainford to restore his partnership with Hewick and Hanlon was eager to acknowledge his generosity.

"He could have said no, but he said, 'Your horse has a chance so you can have him,' so I have to thank Gordon," he said. "He's a sportsman and he was the first person to shake my hand when I came back in."

Jordan Gainford is congratulated by his mother, AvrilCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

For Wexford native Gainford, this was another significant triumph. He is just 21 years of age, but initiated his list of big-race winners when coolly guiding The Shunter – who finished midfield here – to victory at last year's Cheltenham Festival. He is a rider going places.

"Sandown was great but, jeez, this is some training performance to come back here for this," he beamed afterwards. "Fair play to my agent Garry Cribbin. He does a massive job for me and a lot of lads in the weighing room."

Having placed Hewick close to the pace on the outside early on, Gainford found himself in front when the long-time leader Fire Attack crashed out five from home. His mount reached for the second-last before pinging the final fence, and then it all boiled down to what the fates had in store as the loose horse impeded him in the straight. He had them all in trouble behind, and their fortune just held out.

"It wasn't ideal," Gainford said of the interference. "I was going down to the second-last and I wasn't sure whether they were coming at me or it was the loose horses so I had to commit a bit earlier in case they brought me out.

"I thought he mightn't find up the hill after using up so much when I committed him, but he is one tough horse. It's just unbelievable."

Unbelievable indeed, although with the Shark circling it seems anything is possible.

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