Plate joy for McCoy at last as Pulse wins

Tony McCoy rode Finger Onthe Pulse to glory in Wednesday’s www.thetote.com Galway Plate.

The star jockey had never previously garnered victory on the Plate but adds another line to his roll of honour after he edged Themoonandsixpence in the big race on day three of the Galway festival.

McCoy had originally been down to ride Michael Hourigan's Dancing Tornado but was switched after that mount’s late withdrawal due to lameness. And in the Grand National-winning colours of JP McManus he took full advantage as he claimed victory by half a length at Ballybrit.

The Tom Taaffe-trained Finger Onthe Pulse had been a 22-1 shot for the feature, but as the race entered the last three fences a thrilling finish ensued. Themoonandsixpence went in front as the latter jumps neared, but McCoy ensured that his horse fought back strongly and overtook him while also holding off the pre-race favourite – the Dermot Weld-trained Majestic Concorde.

He was forced to settle for third as Finger Onthe Pulse went on to seal a first win since October 2008 and his first big success since edging Barbers Shop to the Jewson Novices Handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival earlier that year.

"His form was uninspiring but he was running well at Punchestown when I fell off,” McCoy was quoted as saying of the winning horse by the Racing Post.
"I jumped him out and he really enjoyed himself up front. I kept a bit in reserve for the final climb and he kept responding."