Fahy plotting Washington Lad campaign

Washington Lad could bid for compensation back at Galway following his fine effort in the big handicap chase at the Ballybrit track last week.

The nine-year-old was in the lead at the final fence in the William Hill Galway Plate only to be found out by the testing conditions which saw him tire into third place behind Ballyholland.

Now his trainer Pat Fahy has his eyes set on another big handicap chase over two and three-quarter miles at Galway’s Autumn Festival in four weeks’ time.

“We were delighted with his run in the Plate. I think he’d have done even better if he hadn’t have got stuck on the bad ground coming up the hill,” said the County Carlow-based handler.

“We are going to go back to Galway for another two-mile-six 0-140 handicap. We want to pick up a decent handicap with him and then let him off the year and come back again for a spring and summer campaign.”