Galvin nicks Savills Chase in thrilling finish
Jockey Davy Russell put his' head down and drove for the line' as he got Gordon Elliott's Galvin up to edge out odds-on favourite A Plus Tard to claim the Savills Chase at Leopardstown today.
Winner of the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last March and runner-up last time out to Frodon in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal, Galvin again showed great reserves of stamina to land this €175,000 feature.
A Plus Tard travelled well under Rachael Blackmore entering the straight and was pushed along to go past the front-running Kemboy approaching the final fence.
However, the 8/11 favourite didn’t find as much as expected under pressure with Russell conjuring a powerful late run to claim victory by a short-head.
"That's unbelievable. I had a tear in my eye for half the race, I'm not afraid to say it. We've had a tough year and it's brilliant," said an emotional Elliott.
"We started off having a bit of fun around Perth with him and he hasn't let us down the whole way. That's 12 races he's won now and he's a horse of a lifetime.
"He got into a lovely rhythm, he does that. He's a good horse and he stays like hell. He'll go straight to the Gold Cup now.
"I don't think he was much fitter today than he was in Down Royal but he got confidence out of that race.
"Jamie Codd gave him a beautiful ride, he hit the line well. I think the three-miles-two of the Gold Cup trip will suit him well.
"The way he stays if he can get into a rhythm anywhere at all, I wouldn't care if he was first or last going out on the last circuit, he'll come very strong in the Gold Cup.
"The horses have run out of their skin all week and to win that race is unbelievable.
“Ronnie Bartlett is a brilliant owner, a good friend and he's a gentleman. (Davy) Russell is a great friend of mine, we've been friends since riding in point-to-points at 16 or 17-years-of-age.
"I'm very lucky to have Davy and Jack (Kennedy) at the moment. That meant a lot to Davy as well as he's very close to Ronnie.
"We don't let him ride for anyone else at the moment, he's too good to be giving to anyone else!," concluded the trainer.
Galvin was the only local winner at Leopardstown, but Elliott did manage a cross-card double when Bold Getaway won the Maiden Hurdle at Limerick at odds of 11/4.
The five year old who fell on his first two point-to-point runs, was also placed 'between the flags' and in a November bumperm and today was produced to lead on the inside before the final flight to eventually beat Fameaftertheglory by three and a half lengths.
"I rode him in his point-to-points and he is a grand big horse and a typical Getaway," said jockey Jordan Gainsford.
"He turned a corner and his bumper run the last day stood to him and he also had a previous run in a maiden hurdle.
"He did it well, likes that ground and is a horse to look forward to. Going a trip in time won't be a problem to him.”
Gavin Cromwell was also amongst the winners at Limerick when his first reserve Donnrua Dream caused a 33/1 upset in the Handicap Hurdle under jockey Philip Dempsey.
The son of Sans Frontieres made his handicap debut today rated 89 and having travelled well through the race, battled well on the run-in to hold runner-up Kingston Kid by a length and a quarter.