Midleton trainer Andrew Lee savours rare winner as El Galvino springs 20-1 Tramore surprise

El Galvino and Robbie Colgan win the Waterford Castle And Resort Style Evening August 15th Maiden. Pic: Healy Racing

Midleton trainer Andrew Lee was the happiest man at a sun-kissed Tramore on Tuesday as El Galvino ran out a surprise winner of the Waterford Castle And Resort Style Evening August 15th Maiden.

The Emmet Mullins-trained Dream On Baby was sent off the 8-11 favourite for the 12-furlong contest but she had to settle for third as 20-1 shot El Galvino, owned by the Back On Track Syndicate, made every yard of the running to provide jockey Robbie Colgan with the first leg of a double.

“I had a winner for these owners here many years ago, I’d say it was the last time I trained a winner, it must be 40 years ago,” Lee quipped.

Of El Galvino, who disappointed at Dundalk on his previous run in February having finished second and third there in the latter part of last year, Lee added: “Things didn’t go right for him the last day but he had been running very consistently in Dundalk.

“I thought he’d run a big race today, I’d have been disappointed if he wasn’t in the first three. Nothing took him on, they probably thought he was going to crash and die but this horse doesn’t crash and die.” 

Colgan’s second winner of the day was an even bigger price as 40-1 shot Voice Of Reason refused to be passed in the August Festival Early Bird Packages On tramoreraces.ie Handicap.

“We saw him running in a handicap hurdle down here once upon a time and we left him alone but we came back for him at Clonmel,” winning trainer William Delahunty said. “He needs the two miles, a mile and a half on grass is not even enough. Robbie said he could have gone around again there. He’s a very genuine horse.” 

Colin Keane also rode a double, initiated by Daboya backing up last month’s Ballinrobe triumph by winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.

“She’s a great fun mare who brings her owners to all these places and is dual-purpose, so she can go back over hurdles as well, when the rain comes,” winning trainer Dick Donohue said. “I’d imagine Galway will be next for another Flat race, as she hasn’t enough experience for a handicap hurdle yet.” 

Keane completed the double when the Paul Flynn-trained Forlio ran out a decisive winner of the Tramoreraces.ie Handicap at odds of 5-1.

“He has been lucky for me and had a nice run in Naas the last day, when he was a little bit unlucky when unfortunately he got stopped a few times,” Keane said.

“Going up in trip suited him though the ground was plenty tight for him. To be fair, when he got into his head that he was enjoying it, he kept coming. He is solid in this grade and when he has his conditions, he turns up.” 

A plan came together in the Tote Tramore Derby Handicap as Churchwarden landed the spoils for local trainer Henry de Bromhead.

Formerly trained by John McConnell, Churchwarden was bought by Pimlico Racing Ireland and Robert Dooly with the aim of winning this race.

De Bromhead admitted he feared the plan was overly ambitious when the six-year-old followed up a disappointing stable debut at Roscommon in May with another underwhelming effort at Clonmel last month.

However, sporting first-time blinkers, the 100-30 shot was a very different beast here, bolting up by 10 lengths in the hands of Gary Carroll.

“I’m delighted, it’s a real local winner,” De Bromhead said. “Loads of people are involved, obviously from all over the country, but plenty are from Waterford and Tramore. They bought him specifically to try and win this race. After his run in Clonmel I thought we were going to struggle but I’m delighted for everyone and he did it really well. Gary gave him a super spin and the blinkers had the desired effect.” 

Timandi made a belated breakthrough when winning the opening contest, the Follow Tote On X Claiming Race.

Winless in 14 previous starts, the James Barrett-trained four-year-old came here on the back of a decent run when fourth at Limerick last time out and duly improved on that effort to score at odds of 5-2.

“It rode a moderate enough race,” winning jockey Luke McAteer admitted. “Our plan was to make the running but she didn’t jump so we went to Plan B. I had to ride a waiting race then and she did it well. I’m delighted with her.” 

Bynx rounded off proceedings by winning the August Festival August 13th - 16th Handicap at odds of 9-1 for trainer Matin Hassett and jockey Paddy Hartnett.