Staples guides Come On The Lads to an unlikely win

Despite proving friendless with punters, Come On The Lads came from the clouds to land the BoyleSports Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle.

As short as 7/1 in early shows for this extended two-mile contest, the Gavin Cromwell-trained five-year-old was eventually returned at 22/1 in the colours of The Lads Partnership.

Providing Eoin Staples with the biggest success of his fledgling career, the Elzaam bay made a mistake at the first and soon raced in rear.

Still well back in eleventh from two out, he was switched to the outer approaching the last and found another gear when ridden on the run-in, powering through the field to prevail by a head.

Returned the 7/2 favourite, the Emmet Mullins-trained Toll Stone was ridden to the front after the last, but couldn't hold off the winner and had to settle for the runner-up berth under Donagh Meyler.

Both Messerschmitt (7/1) and Sequoiaspirit (22/1) finished with a flourish and were close-up in third and fourth respectively.

"I missed the incident at the first hurdle but seemingly he made a mistake and lost an iron so it wasn't the plan to be as far back," Cromwell reflected.

"When he landed that far back he (Staples) didn't panic and went to sleep behind them and did everything right. It didn't look likely that he'd win but he gave him a great ride.

"Eoin is in with us four or five mornings a week and is there every work morning.

"The syndicate has been involved in different horses over the years and Pat McGuinness heads it up, and he is involved in loads of different horses in the yard. We originally got the horse out of a claimer so this is great."

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Raceday Stewards enquired into an incident on the home bend involving Putapoundinthejar ridden by K.C. Sexton, unplaced, Autumn Twist ridden by D. King, unplaced, and Run For Harry ridden by P.M. O'Brien, unplaced, where it appeared interference may have occurred. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. K.C. Sexton and D. King both said it got tight on the bend. P.M. O'Brien said he got pressure from his left. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards took no further action other than to advise K.C. Sexton to be more aware when horses are slowing up in front of him.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes