In-form Weld and Smullen on the mark again with Firebird

DERMOT WELD and Pat Smullen, fresh from a treble at Leopardstown on Wednesday evening, wasted no time adding to those gains when Sweet Firebird took the opening Irish Stallion Farms' EBF Fillies Maiden at Clonmel last night.

Down in class, following her third in a Group Three at Naas previously, the daughter of Sadler's Wells was backed from some 4-5 to 4-9. Always travelling nicely, she quickened clear from the furlong pole to beat front-running Sogno Verde a comfortable two and a half lengths.

“We put the blinkers on to make sure”, reported Smullen. “She's not ungenuine, but just lacks concentration.”