O’Regan hoping to have the Ansar in Galway Plate

DENIS O’Regan hailed Ansar as a “very, very special” horse as the 12-year-old prepares for yet another Galway Festival.

O’Regan was still claiming 3lb in the saddle when he was propelled into the big time after partnering Dermot Weld’s course specialist to Plate glory in 2005.

O’Regan is now stable jockey to Howard Johnson in England but he will be back on the veteran when he bids for his eighth track win in the William Hill-sponsored Plate on July 30.