Teenage dreams came true in the Galway Plate as local jockey Danny Gilligan led Ash Tree Meadow to a memorable triumph on his home track, writes Paul Martin.

The 17-year-old, who grew up between Craughwell and Athenry, reckons he has been at every Galway Festival since he was a baby and bagged his first-ever winner at the meeting on board Neveradullmoment on Monday.

Handed the ride on Gordon Elliott’s second favourite in one of the week’s showpiece races, he avoided potential disruption from loose horse and stablemate Andy Dufresne – who parted company with Aidan Kelly at the first – to hit the front approaching the home straight.

Authorized Art entered the fray in the closing stages as Danny Mullins mounted a late charge but Gilligan held firm on the seven-year-old, who was fourth in this race last year, to spark wild celebrations in the parade ring and amid his friends and family in the stands.

“I don’t know what to say, I can’t believe it,” he said. “I can’t thank Gordon and all the owners in the yard enough. I’m just delighted.

“I didn’t want to panic coming in, I tried holding on to him as long as I could as I knew turning in it was still a long way from home. 

“He was good and gutsy the whole way around. He jumped super and I can’t complain.”

The success was made all the sweeter for Gilligan by the fact he is only just back from a collar bone injury which threatened to rule him out of his favourite week of the year.

“I was hoping to be back for Galway and to have two winners by Wednesday is brilliant,” he said.

"I had a scan two weeks ago and I was begging them to let me back. It has all worked out.”

Ash Tree Meadow is Elliott’s third winner in this race, following in the footsteps of Clarcam and Borice.

“It’s great to win the race and it has been the plan since we placed at Cheltenham last October,” Elliott said.

“My own horse nearly caused him a bit of interference but today was Ash Tree Meadow’s day. 

“The plan was to jump out smart and Danny gave him a beautiful ride. He’s a good rider, he stayed cool. 

“He’s a lovely fella and he is learning a lot from riding out with the likes of Jack Kennedy every day. 

“If you win these races, it’s a lot of prize money and keeps you well up the table. It’s great.”

Gilligan was not the only promising young jockey to enjoy success on day three, with John Gleeson landing a 66/1 victory on board John Nallen's Minella Mate in the Tote.ie Never Beaten By SP Maiden.

Sam Ewing, meanwhile, earned his first victory of 2023 following a lengthy injury lay-off as he held off the advances of favourite Aurora Princess to win the Bet 10 Euros Get 30 Euros Free At Tote.ie Irish EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle on A Law Of Her Own.

Hollow Games, also trained by Elliott, came home third, with A Wave Of The Sea and Visionarian finishing fourth and fifth for Joseph O’Brien and Peter Fahey respectively.

"I had a scan two weeks ago and I was begging them to let me back"

- Danny Gilligan