Optional Mix (maroon sleeves) © Photo Healy Racing
Optional Mix (11/2) and The Dasher Conway were prominent throughout and had the Galway Races Galway Plate Trial Handicap Chase to themselves on the long run to the last where the first-named began to gain the upper hand under Shane O'Callaghan.
The eight-year-old stayed on well to win by two and three quarter lengths.
Trainer Eoin Doyle commented: “She was unlucky the last day to run into Mousey Brown who was well in and won well again since.
“The plan was she had a light weight and to make use of it. When she gets to the front and gets into a rhythm like that,she’s hard to peg back. She’s a good, tough, solid mare.
“She lost her way a little bit over the winter. I just think she was sick of being gunned out on that real heavy ground and seems to be enjoying that better surface.
“We’ll probably have a crack at Galway now, maybe the Galway Blazers. She enjoys it in a bigger race with a lighter weight as she’s not that big.
“Gerry and Chrissy (Hughes, owners) are in Spain at the moment. They’ll be watching in and will be happy tonight."
Quotes from Alan Magee
