Galway Races 2008 - Results Wednesday 30 July

Galway Races - Results 2008

Wednesday 30 July

Oslot wins Galway Plate for Walsh and Nichols

Galway results in brief

1.50 Desert Abbey 7/1 A D Leigh (Mrs J Harrington)

2.25 Clover Pearl 9/1 P W Flood (M Cullen)

3.00 Directa King 3/1 JT FAV P J Smullen (D K Weld)

3.40 Oslot 11/4 FAV Ruby Walsh (P Nichols)

4.25 Invincible Joe 8/1 K Latham (G Lyons)

5.00 Lady Alicia 6/1 Mr M M O'Connor (5) (D K Weld)

5.35 Vanishing Causeway 16/1 F M Berry (D Marnane)

6.05 Amarama 7/2 W J Supple (D Myerscough)

"The Money's in the Bag Now!"

After Directa King, the D K Weld trained winner of the William Hill Handicap, raced home 17 lengths clear of the second horse, Cloone River, the following exchange took place on RTE:

Commentator Tony O'Hehir : "That was a handicap and Directa King has absolutely bolted in."

Ted Walsh: "The Weld bandwagon keeps rolling along. He said beforehand that he fancied it well. The one man I'd say is running for cover is our Flat handicapper. How, in the name of God, a horse can win a competitive handicap at Galway by that far is beyond me. He didn't win it by two lengths or three lengths. He won it by as far as you'd see a horse win a 3 mile chase. I mean it wasn't a handicap - it was a horse dropped in.

(Viewing the replay) "He left ... The rest of them were in a heap behind. There's not a lot to choose between them, but this horse goes further and further in front off a rating of 72. I'm sure he (the Flat handicapper) is asking himself how he got this so wrong. And so wrong did he get it.

"Plenty of money for him (Directa King). Loads of support. And he absolutely bolted in."

Robert Hall: "Ted, in fairness to the handicapper, the horse has only had one run in this country and he was placed in it. The handicapper was judging him on his German form. He won a couple of small races in Germany. So it was difficult."

Ted: "Difficult? Yes, it was difficult, but he didn't half get it wrong."

Robert: "He got it wrong. He'd admit that, but he won't get it quite so wrong the next time."

Ted: "Ah, no he won't. But the money's in the bag now. The robbery is committed. We're all gone home. Ha! Ha!"

Ted Walsh on Robbie McNamara's Victory

Commenting on Robbie McNamara's G.P.T. Galway Handicap win on Majestic Concorde, Dermot Weld said: "He gave him a beautiful ride. Robbie's a tall guy, bu I got him to get down behind his horse and sit in like maybe I used to do years ago. He gave him a peach of a ride. I said to him, 'Remember, Robbie, the rail is the shortest way round', and that's what he did. That's what won the race. He's a really, really good amateur."

Ted Walsh emphasised the remarkable weight loss McNamara had achieved in pursuit of this victory: "If anyone deserved to win this race it was Robbie McNamara. If you'd seen how much weight this young man had to lose to ride this horse. He looks like a Biafran. If you saw his face there.

He's a big tall lad (6ft 2in), a big lad. He had 9 pounds to lose in the last couple of days. He spent more time running and sweating in a sauna. There's nothing there. If you see his face, all you can see is his eyes. He's like a scarecrow.

He's absolutely done a great job. He's given this horse a wonderful ride. He's ridden for a great man, Dermot Weld. I'm delighted for him. When someone tries that hard, you love to see him getting a result."