Veteran Walsh beats Ballydoyle in Gowran finale

John Joe Walsh struck a blow for the jumping ranks at Gowran today as the veteran trainer beat off the Ballydoyle brigade to win the concluding Live Music After Racing Maiden with hurdler Davids Charm

Rachael Blackmore chartered the inside route along the churned up ground on Davids Charm but the yardage-saving plan worked as the pair eventually got the better of a battle with the Aidan O'Brien trained Fightfortheroses when scoring a length and a quarter win.

Fightfortheroses, by Galileo and a half-brother to Derby winner Pour Moi, was failing in his bid to give Donnacha O'Brien his 100th winner this season and also to provide the Champion Jockey-elect and his trainer father Aidan O'Brien with respective four-timers on the day.

Davids Charm, a brother to hurdles winner Terry The Fish, had previously won a Grade A handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse last December and after today's race Walsh stated “he stays and it wasn’t bad for a hurdler to win there over a mile and two!"

The trainer, who took out his trainers' license in 1966, added "the conditions suited him, and we’ll see what handicap mark he gets.”

Quotes from Alan Magee