There was no doubting that Grimes had the talent to win the Compaq Galway Plate but it was pure guts and determination which proved the decisive factor in the £100,000 contest today.
The former top-class hurdler hadn’t shown the same level of form over fences in previous attempts but the notion that he could prove a handicap snip judged on his hurdling form ifthings went his way proved deadly accurate.
Racing off only 10st 1lb the former winner of the Shell Champion Hurdle at Punchestown was a drifter on course (5/2 two 4/1J/F) but belied the lack of confidence from the punters by lifting the showpiece of summer jump racing.
Settled just off the pace by Conor O’Dwyer, Grimes travelled sweetly throughout as Dovaly cut out the running - closely pursued by Quinze.
The action reached boiling point as they approached the second last and Grimes was sent tothe front.He was briefly headed by Quinze over the final fence but soon regained theadvantage.
Quinze refused to lie down, however, and as they turned for home he led the attack asFrancis Bay and the game Dovaly chased.Francis Bay flattered to deceive as hefaded inside the final furlong and it was left to the admirable Quinze to push Grimes all theway to the line.
However, he couldn’t match the winner going down by a length-and-a-half with Dovaly staying on again for third with Francis Bay finishing fourth.
"All credit to Frank Berry, who said last Christmas that Grimes could win a race like this, offthat kind of rating," said the delighted winning trainer Christy Roche afterwards.
The trainer has left the winner in the Galway Hurdle tomorrow and revealed that,"all being well," he will try to achieve a historic double.
Owner JP McManus was also hopeful that they could have shot at the double tomorrow:
"We always knew that if he reproduced his hurdles form he would run a big race.Hopefully we can go for the double tomorrow but I’ll leave that decision to Christy."
McManus had also visited the winner’s enclosure earlier when the Aidan O’Brien trainedDarapour triumphed in the opener.
Darapour is without doubt one of the lesser lights of the Ballydoyle operation, but the geldingplayed the starring role in the Compaq Alphaserver SC Hurdle when comfortably justifying 4 to 9 favouritism.
Charlie Swan gave the seven-year-old a confident ride - tracking leader Vague Impressionbefore letting his mount stride on after a superb jump at the fourth last had catapulted him intothe lead.
The pair had the field struggling as they turned into the straight, on the bridle, but Swan had toshake his mount up after the last as Rough Gamble threw down a renewed challenge to get towithin a length-and-a-half at the line.
Norman Williamson was seen to good effect aboard top-weight Best Grey in the CompaqSoftware Publishing Services Handicap Hurdle.
Edward O’Grady’s gelding took up the running approaching the second last and a good jumpat that flight sent him two lengths clear but the son of Ezzoud didn’t help Williamson byhanging badly on the run to the corner.
The Cork jockey, however, straightened up his mount turning for home and the pair battledtenaciously to the line to hold off the challenge of Samasakhan by half a length.
O’Grady was full of praise for Williamson afterwards:
"Norman gave him a superb ride.It is agreat confidence boost for him and shows what a good jockey he is."
O’Grady added that the gelding, a 26,000gns purchase in France, could turn out again at theweekend depending on how he takes the race.
Pat Hughes took his tally to three for the week when Gemini Guest asserted in the last200yds to land the Compaq Software Acquisition Handicap under Fran Berry.