Roche Father/Son land opener at Galway

There was another Father and Son duo in the winner’s enclosure at Galway Festival this week when the Christy Roche trained Back Me Up came home in front of the Guinness (Q.R) Handicap Hurdle in the hands of the trainers son Padraig Roche for owner J.P McManus

Winning trainer Roche said afterwards, “The horse handles this ground very well and that’s why we took out What’s New on account of the change in ground.”

“It’s great to get a winner at the Galway Festival. Padraig gave him a great ride and the race really worked out well for him.”

Back Me Up was J.P McManus’ first winner of the festival.

The Tom Taaffe trained Billy No Mates had to be put down after he fell and broke his leg, his jockey Brian O'Connell escaped without injury.