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Danny Gilligan was left pinching himself after landing a second Tote Galway Plate of a brilliant ride on Western Fold.

The local jockey from Athenry claimed the honours on Ash Tree Meadow in 2023 and repeated the feat on Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old this time around, surging past pacesetter Amirite and holding off Jesse Evans up the home straight.

It marked a third victory in as many outings for Western Fold, who won the Mayo National last time out and defied a hike in his handicap mark as well as a mistake at the first fence to earn another statement success.

Western Fold is the @Galway_Races Plate hero - a fifth triumph in the famous race in the last decade for @gelliott_racing 🥇@thetotecom | @ToteRacing pic.twitter.com/SA7vggM0p1

— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) July 30, 2025

“When I won it two years ago, I didn’t think I’d have a chance of doing it again,” Gilligan said.

“I can’t thank Gordon and his owners enough and what fan I say about the horse, he jumped and travelled everywhere and got there at the line.

“He’s just brave. A lot of horses would fold up after they do that (early mistake) but he was straight back on the bridle, quick and sharp, other than that it was plain sailing the whole way round and didn’t have any problems.

“This nicer ground has really brought out improvement in him, his jumping is really starting to come together. It was a great performance in Ballinrobe and he got a fair hike for that. To come here and put that performance in, you have to be happy.”

Amirite made most of the running in the 2m6f showpiece under Darragh O’Keeffe but the chasing pack began to close in during the long sprint home after the last.

It soon became a two-horse race up the straight and Western Fold pulled clear to consign Noel Meade’s brave nine-year-old Jesse Evans, twice a Galway Hurdle runner-up, to another near-miss at this meeting.

Elliott, by contrast, now has five Galway Plate winners to his name.

A delighted Gilligan added: “I knew he was one of the best horses in the race and I was quietly confident, as was Gordon.

“I wouldn’t have minded if I was in front but I wasn’t going to force the issue. I was happy enough to sit and he was able to wing fences, I never had to ask too many questions until it came down to it.

“All the family are here, loads of school friends, it’s brilliant to have them here on days like this. It’s very special.”