Pinkerton powers home for Galway Plate glory

Despite having won his last two starts at Tipperary and Punchestown in April and May respectively, Noel Meade's charge was sent off at 20-1 under Donagh Meyler.

WINNER, WINNER: Jockey Donagh Meyler celebrates on Pinkerton after winning the Tote Galway Plate during day three of the Galway Races Summer Festival at Ballybrit Racecourse in Galway. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

The Flat may be his primary focus nowadays, but in front of a crowd of 16,023 on Wednesday evening in Galway, eight-time champion National Hunt trainer Noel Meade reminded folk he hasn’t fully turned his back on the discipline he once dominated in Ireland as 20-1 shot Pinkerton gave him a second victory in the Tote Galway Plate, 10 years on from Road To Riches’ breakthrough.

It was also a second Plate success for winning pilot Donagh Meyler, previously successful aboard Lord Scoundrel, in 2016.