THE old adage has it that truth is stranger than fiction! Roger Loughran, whose career looked to be in tatters at Leopardstown last Christmas, came in for a chance ride on Far From Trouble at Ballybrit yesterday and proceeded to land the Galway Plate for owner JP McManus and trainer Christy Roche.

Ansar goes for a hat-trick of victories in the William Hill Galway Plate tomorrow and an incredible eighth win in all at the famous festival.