Natural High looks another for Weld
He has only run four times in his life and has been given real kid-glove treatment by his ultra-shrewd handler.
The five-year-old won a bumper at this meeting on his debut a year ago and has just three runs on the flat under his belt.
The Sadler’s Wells gelding has only been seen once this season and that was at Killarney in May.
Natural High was uneasy in the market then, with rumours in the betting ring that he might be well short of peak fitness.
Whether they were true or not, the facts are that he won with any amount in hand, by an unflattering six lengths from Sutherland Star.
There was so much to admire about the way he bounded up the straight and, though this is an entirely different test altogether, Natural High is fancied to come through with flying colours.
Weld can also supply the answer to the Galway Publicans’ EBF Maiden with Raffaello Santi, even if Aidan O’Brien runs no less than three in the race.
Raffaello Santi, however, is on the upgrade, running another O’Brien inmate, Big Occasion, to a length at Tipperary.
The form received a minor boost when third placed Gipsy Countess went in next time.
John Oxx has never been a Galway specialist, but does bang in the odd winner — he had one here yesterday — and may do the business again with King Of The Ring in the Guinness 17.59 EBF Auction Maiden. The son of Indesatchel made a promising debut when fifth to Pathfork at the Curragh and second placed, Robin Hood, won here on Monday night.
