Weld’s Zeroberto unlikely to get into Galway Hurdle due to change in balloting rules

IT seems highly unlikely Dermot Weld's Zeroberto, an easy winner on Monday night, will get into tomorrrow's Galway Hurdle, writes Pat Keane.

Weld, aware his gelding was a long way down the weights, ran him two days ago with the plan being to win and have Zeroberto penalised by the handicapper.

The handicapper duly handed him an 11lbs rise and that appeared to have done the trick. A change in the rules, however, means that his new mark will not be taken into consideration when the balloting is applied. The Hurdle will house 20 runners and Zeroberto is currently listed at 31. He needs eleven to come out if he is to get a run. Weld hit out at the rule change last night. He said: “It is a stupid rule and a wrong system. I think this takes away from the race, the best horses should get in.”