Fallon back in business
Kieren Fallon got off the mark at this year’s Galway Festival aboard Flying Knight in the williamhillradio.com Handicap.
Fallon was unable to ride at the first night of the meeting when he missed his flight after riding in Turkey on Sunday.
After being out of luck on Tuesday, Fallon – currently banned from riding in Britain – got a real tune out of Noel Lawlor’s charge to score with half a length in hand from Dollars Rock.
“It’s great to have a winner here,” said Fallon, whose mount was sent off the well-supported 9-4 favourite. “I rode here in my younger days and have been here once or twice since but that was great.”
Roger Loughran proved an able last-minute deputy for the injured Tony McCoy to win the William Hill Galway Plate on Far From Trouble.
With McCoy sidelined after breaking his wrist following a fall in the second race, Loughran made the most of his opportunity aboard Christy Roche’s charge.
He only took up the running on the JP McManus-owned gelding after the last and won by three and a half lengths.
The 8-1 shot was chased home by the 4-1 favourite Ansar, who made a brave attempt under top weight to win the feature of the Galway Festival for a third successive year.
Dix Villez, who made most of the running, was third with the McManus-owned Ursumman fourth.
British raider Ball O Malt, trained by Richard Fahey, unshipped Anthony Ross at the fifth-last fence.
Loughran could barely conceal his delight at the outcome but was also quick to offer McCoy his condolences.
“That was great,” said the jockey, best known for his exploits on Central House.
“He jumped the second-last spot-on and he did it like a real good horse going up the straight. Everything went to plan, which is amazing because I only found out from Christy an hour before the race that I’d be riding the horse.
“It’s a shame for Tony though and I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Roche was jubilant in victory but had nothing but sympathy for McCoy, who hatched the plan to aim Far From Trouble at the Galway Plate.
“I was as confident as I could be going into the race as the horse was very well,” said the County Kildare handler.
“AP (McCoy) thought he was going to win the Irish National when he fell. It was then Tony’s idea to go for the Plate.
“He prefers this ground rather than heavy ground but just before the race I had a concern about the ground being too fast – I wouldn’t have run him then.
“But the ground was nice and not too fast in the end. We’ve no plans at the moment – we’ll see what the handicapper does.”
Dermot Weld was equally proud of the admirable Ansar’s performance.
“I was delighted with him – he’s run a superb race,” he said. “He’s given 21lb to the winner who’s a very good horse. Ansar ran right up to his best form and he got a magnificent ride from Ruby (Walsh) and he did what he always does at Galway – he ran his heart out.
“I think the plan will be to train him specifically for this race again next year,” Weld told At The Races.
