Rock Critic set for quick follow up
He makes a quick reappearance, having won at the meeting just two days ago, but that is hardly any sort of worry.
The six-year-old was making a belated seasonal debut on Thursday and could not have been more impressive.
Set alight by Smullen off the home turn, he burst clear to score by five lengths. Rock Critic carries just a mandatory 5lbs penalty and, though up in class and down in distance, is fancied to dismiss such considerations.
Weld is double-handed in the Jockeys’ Association Maiden Hurdle, with Natural High readily preferred to Duc de Savoie.
We can be certain Natural High has been well schooled and wasn’t disgraced here on Monday night when seventh to Fosters Cross over two miles on the level.
Weld is represented by Hit The Jackpot in the Ladbrokes.com EBF Maiden, but he performed badly at the Curragh and is passed over.
The vote goes to Aidan O’Brien’s Mannheim, who made a solid start when third behind his stable companions, Triumphant and Secretary Of State, at Gowran Park.
Dark Passion, who battled on strongly when winning his maiden at Bellewstown, is the choice in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Nursery.
At Cork tomorrow John Oxx’s Haziyna gets the nap in the Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Give Thanks Stakes.
She has improved throughout the campaign, producing a decent effort at Roscommon when a length and a quarter second to Quest For Peace in a Listed event.
Oxx’s Alanza looks the one to beat in the one Mile Platinum Stakes. She finished to real effect when third at Leopardstown and Naas, both times over six furlongs, and appears to be crying out for this trip.
Ellell Duke, who made a race of it with Jessica Harrington’s Dragon Pulse at Leopardstown, eventually giving best by a length, can go one better in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden.
Back at Galway tomorrow Apt Manor, successful on the flat at Tramore, should be spot-on for the Easyfix EBF Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.
Weld’s Comedic Art, showing gradual improvement and who was third to Galileos Daughter and Fountain Of Honour at Down Royal, can take the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden.
