Meticulous planning pays off as Ansar completes famous double
The Rosewell House maestro simply refused to run Ansar over fences, following his fifth to Nearly A Moose in the Plate a year ago.
Reasoned Weld: “Both Direct Bearing and Mutakarrim went up for winning before Galway and I wasn’t prepared to take that chance with Ansar.
“If I had run him then he probably would have won and gone up maybe 5lbs. If that had happened then he would not have taken the Galway Plate today.”
Prince Of Pleasure and Manjoe carried the field along, as David Casey went down the inside on Ansar, just off the pace.
“The race went exactly as I planned it”, reported Casey, enjoying his first success in the traditional Ballybrit feature. “I wanted to be on the inside in fourth, fifth or sixth place.”
Ansar jumped superbly and got a dream run up the far rail to lead coming away from the last fence.
Top weight, Risk Accessor - what a race he ran - produced a storming finish for Tony McCoy, but Ansar held on for dear life to score by a length.
Manjoe boxed on to claim third, with Weld’s other runner, Direct Bearing, staying on from behind for fourth.
“David gave the horse a beautiful ride”, said Weld, adding to his previous gains in the Plate with Kiichi and General Idea. “He came to me at the Curragh on Derby day and asked if he could team up with Ansar again.
“He rode him in the Plate last year, but went wide. I said yes, but told him he would have to do better and go down the inside. He promised he would and was as good as his word. He rode a brilliant race.
“I am very pleased with Direct Bearing. He was novicey and ran a race similar to Ansar last year. “Today was the day for Ansar. Direct Bearing will improve and I think there is a National in him some day.” What National Weld has in mind only time can reveal.
Casey confirmed that he approached Weld at the Curragh. “Ansar ran on Derby day and went so well I was terrified as many as 20 jockeys might try to get on him!
"I always thought he could win a Plate. That’s why I asked for the ride again, I’m not a bad judge!
"Dermot told me I would have to do better than last year. I did promise that I would.”
It was a great day for Weld, who landed a spectacular four-timer, taking his tally for the week to five.
His Rich Sense showed what a tough filly she is when defying 9-6, plenty of weight for a three-year-old against older horses, in the HP Ireland Handicap.
She got a strong drive from Pat Smullen, powering ahead on the uphill approach to the home turn.
Market rival, Moratorium, emerged as a major danger inside the furlong pole, but Rich Sense stuck it out to score by a neck.
“That was a very positive ride by Pat Smullen”, said a delighted Weld. “This is a genuine, tough filly and there is a distinct possibility she will now go for a Listed race at Cork next Monday.”
Orpington - Niall Madden was having his first ride for Weld - took the HP Software Management Services Maiden. Heavily backed, he swept past the flattering Delgany Toulon off the home turn to win by three lengths.
“This is a nice horse in the making and I think will progress”, said Weld. “We will see how the year goes for him. Niall rode with great confidence and skill.”
Weld completed a memorable afternoon when long odds-on Spirit Of Age predictably outclassed moderate rivals in the HP Indigo Impressions Maiden.
Smullen soon had her striding along in front and Spirit Of Age quickened turning in to ease five lengths clear of Double Mystery. “She will probably go for a handicap at Cork on Monday”, said Weld.
Sylvester Kirk, who trains in upper Lambourn, saddled his first winner in his native country when General Feeling produced an amazing performance in the HP Software Publishing Services Handicap.
Rushing downhill to the straight the eventual winner was stone last of the 18 runners. He then had to switch round the entire field to challenge on the wide outside as the leaders hit the final furlong.
But General Feeling found a devastating turn of foot to swamp everything and score going away by an incredible three and a half lengths.
“That wasn’t the plan, but the horse was simply outpaced”, reported Kirk.
Punters had a disastrous start when 1-3 shot Rockstown Boy was turned-over by Indemnity in the opening HP Financial Services Hurdle. Rockstown Boy had to be driven to hit the front by Davy Russell going to the last, but found precious little at the other side of the obstacle and was well outpointed by the winner on the flat.
Trained by Michael O’Brien, Indemnity, pulled up in his previous two races, gave pilot, Tom Ryan, his eighth success. Said Ryan: “I broke my shoulder in March and came back to ride at the Punchestown Festival and the following week. I had to have an operation after that and only returned at Ballinrobe recently.”
Robert Power timed his challenge to perfection to take the HP Imaging and Digital Printing Handicap Hurdle on Donie Hassett’s Burren Moonshine.
In a contest run at a strong pace, he brought the mare through to lead at the final flight to beat top weight, Galtee View, comfortably.
The attendance was 27,633, some 1,600 down on a year ago, while the bookmakers were also down marginally, although they did see €2,521,814 go through their books. The Plate generated €558,015. The tote set its third course record in-a-row - €1,522,362.
