Tote.com Galway Plate

IT’S a race that he has been busy making his own in recent years and Gordon Elliott worked the Galway Plate oracle yet again as Borice emerged from a somewhat unorthodox preparation to give jockey Luke Dempsey the biggest victory of his career.

A third Plate winner in four years for Elliott, Borice warmed up for the race with victories in two small-field novice hurdles at Uttoxeter and Perth earlier in the summer. Those efforts alone did nothing only confirm his wellbeing.

However, last winter the trainer made no secret of his belief that Borice could be a contender for major staying handicaps and the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned gelding certainly looked the part.

Borice, who had been among the market leaders for this race for the last couple of weeks, looked comfortable as he tackled fences for the first time since the Thyestes Chase. From before halfway Luke Dempsey got the 9/1 shot into a decent position and, while he possibly didn’t travel quite as strongly as some of the others, one got the impression that he had any amount left in reserve for when it really mattered.

Game top-weight

This year’s Plate cannot pass without reference to the tremendously game top-weight, Black Corton, who gave Bryony Frost a wonderful spin, and there was a period on the final circuit where it looked as though the pair might pull off a famous success.

As the field approached the last two fences, Pravalaguna and Pylonthepressure started to crack to leave Black Corton fending off Borice.

On the arduous climb to the line, the leaders fanned out across the track, with Black Corton not helped by a loose horse – Peregrine Run and Snugsborough Benny also threatened. Closer to the stands’ rail, the untroubled Borice maintained an unfaltering tempo and stayed on dourly to defeat Black Corton by three and a quarter lengths. Snugsborough Benny took third and Peregrine Run was fourth ahead of the winner’s stablemate Ravenhill.

Movewiththetimes, who was sent off the 8/1 joint-favourite with Snugsborough Benny, departed with six to jump when going well in behind the leaders.

For the winning jockey, who rode his first winner in October 2012, this was a moment to cherish. He rode a Cheltenham winner on Killultagh Vic in 2015 and last season he secured a number of lucrative prizes but this was by far the most notable success of his career.

A delighted Elliott commented: “The ground was a bit of a worry but he had been going well at home and I’m delighted for Simon and Isaac. They sent the horse to me from France and I probably made a mistake running him as soon as I did in the Paddy Power and Thyestes last winter as I’d say he hadn’t just come to himself. So I said I’d give him time and that the next time he would run over fences would be in a valuable handicap.

“I’m just thrilled to win this race again and I’m delighted for Luke as well. At that weight (10st 2lb) there’s no one stronger and he gave the horse a great ride. It’s not easy for young lads to get good opportunities but he took this one. He works hard and deserves it.

“I’m just going to enjoy today before making plans but he was sent to me as a prospective Grand National horse and hopefully that’s something we could aim towards next spring.”

An elated Dempsey said: “The Plate is a massive race and it’s not easy to even get rides in these races. Over the years Gordon has been very good to me and I’m delighted to repay him by winning a race like this. It’s what you get up for in the mornings.”