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The Galway Plate was the highlight of Day 3 (Wednesday) at the Galway Festival and Ash Tree Meadow ran out a worthy winner for trainer Gordon Elliott and claiming jockey Danny Gilligan.
The seven pound claiming jockey Danny Gilligan has enjoyed a career best season, winning sixteen times since April 2023 for his father Paul Gilligan and leading trainer Gordon Elliott. A Galway Plate success is the highlight of his career so far, and it was well-earnt with Gilligan making all on Ash Tree Meadow.
The seven-year-old had finished fourth in last year's Galway Plate behind Hewick when ridden more conservatively and has flourished since a change of tactics. Gilligan faced little opposition until the pair reached the last fast when Willie Mullins' Authorized Art came with a challenge, but Ash Tree Meadow was able to find more to draw two-and-a-half lengths clear in the closing stages.
Having only returned from injury a week prior, Gilligan said: ""I can't believe it. I don't know what to say. I was hoping to be back by Galway and to have two winners by Wednesday is just brilliant. I had a scan Tuesday two weeks ago and I was kind of begging them to let me back.
"Coming past the stands the second time he was wandering over and back, but the horse was good and honest when I needed him. Going down the roadway before the ditch he had a look both times. The first time I wasn't really expecting it but the second time I had a good hold of his head.
"I was able to fill him up coming down into the dip and he battled the whole way to the line. I came across to the stands' side and he was good and gutsy."
The victory represented a fourth success in the Plate for Gordon Elliott since 2016.
There were long-priced winners elsewhere on the card, with Minella Mate springing a 66/1 surprise in the Tote.ie Never Beaten By SP (Q.R.) Maiden. It was difficult to see past short-priced favourite Up And Under from the Joseph O'Brien yard, who had finished fifth in the Irish Derby, but Minella Mate showed a good attitude in the closing furlong to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths. Up And Under held on for second with This Songisforyou back in third. It was a first Galway winner for jockey John Gleeson, son of TV presenter Brian Gleeson.
Claimer Jack Kearney produced an excellent ride on Last Ammo to win the Follow @thetotecom Today Handicap at odds of 40/1. Claiming seven pounds, Kearney sat midfield on the Richard John O'Brien-trained horse and kept on well in the closing stages to beat Mon Coeur by one-and-three-quarter lengths. The 5/2 favourite Immelman could not sustain the fast early pace set under Rachael Blackmore and trailed home last of the nineteen runners.