Mark Enright looks around for dangers to Clarcam after jumping the last© Photo Healy Racing
Mark Enright was in dreamland after Clarcam sprang a 33/1 shock to land TheTote.com Galway Plate at Ballybrit this evening.
The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding, a dual Grade 1 winner as a novice chaser, was sent to post a big price for the two-mile six-furlong feature event on his first outing since finishing well beaten at Punchestown in April.
Enright was always to the fore on the Gigginstown gelding, wearing a blue cap, and he kicked clear of the field jumping the third last fence.
He was well ahead going to the second last and despite tiring slightly on the long home straight the eight-year-old kept on gamely to land the lions share of the €250,000 pot, recording a six-length success.
9/2 favourite Patricks Park chased him home in the closing stages and just held the runner-up spot at the line as another Elliott runner Jury Duty stayed on to press him hard, getting within a neck.
“It was great. We thought he was a bit of a blast from the past, Clarcam, he was a dual Grade 1 winner and was probably the class horse in the race when you go back and look at it,” said Elliott.
“Mark gave him a great ride and he jumped from fence to fence. I thought he was going to get swallowed up coming up the hill but it was brilliant.
“I told him to go out and enjoy himself, let him bowl along as it's the only way he likes to be ridden and thankfully he gave him a great ride so I'm delighted.
“Fair play to Mark. He started riding out for us last winter with no promises to get any rides. He said 'look I don't want any rides I just want a base to ride out and if you give me a ride or two grand'.
“He only got on the horse at 11.30 the day before so it's great for him.
“We were going to claim off him and Conor Orr was to ride him but he's still amateur and it would cost too much if he won the race . Mark was there and Eddie said let him ride him.
“I didn't think I had a whole lot for Galway coming here. We had a couple of placed horses and were delighted.
“Everyone knows we've had a quiet summer for different reasons but the horses are back bombing now and I just can't wait for the winter to come and to get all the winter horses back in.
“Jury Dury ran well and I was very proud of him, he ran a great race. There is a good one in him somewhere.”
Enright added:- "He jumped super and never missed a beat. Keith Donoghue told me this morning to lie up his neck and enjoy him, and to be fair he winged every fence bar the two in the dip the last time.
"I had a look behind me three out and said we are going to have to roll down the hill now and if we're caught I'm going to look an awful eejit but thankfully it worked out.
"On the run-in I said to myself don't look back and keep driving. When we first met the rising ground I thought he might start coming back to them but I grabbed a hold of him halfway up the hill and he lengthened again for me. I definitely had a willing partner.
"I made a decision after Christmas as the freelance thing wasn't working out all that well for me. I asked Gordon one day in Naas for a job and he said come in whenever you want. I'm in there four or five mornings a week now and he's been brilliant. He gives you great confidence riding for him."
It was a double on a memorable day for Enright, following the earlier victory of another 33/1 shot Rovetta in the mares handicap hurdle. It was a 1155/1 double.
The attendance on a rainy Plate day was 16,925 which is 397 down on last year's figure of 17,322.
