Weld bandwagon just keeps rolling
Weld set the original record of eleven a year ago. His horses are in outstanding form right now - he later added Address Unknown to the total in the concluding Guinness Race - and, with two days to go, one can only guess as to what the final score may be.
Robbie McNamara, enjoying his third winner of the week, had an armchair ride on Rainforest Magic, easing the Montjeu gelding to the front two out to beat Clonsilla Fath with plenty in hand.
The four-year-old, successful on the flat on Tuesday, thus became the first horse this week to win twice at the meeting.
Said Weld: “I am very pleased for all concerned at Rosewell House. We have a big staff of 80, this is the showcase and represents a lot of work by a lot of people. Blinkers and better ground made a big difference to this horse.”
No one rides Galway as well as Pat Smullen and he was quite brilliant aboard Address Unknown in the last.
He threw the kitchen sink at the gelding through the last two furlongs to get the best of a tough tussle with Fleur de Nuit, the verdict half a length.
“That was a very, very good ride by Pat”, was Weld’s verdict. “I’d like to win a Listed race with this horse.”
Smullen’s tally for the five days now stands at 10.
Sarah Dawson, who trains nine horses at Banbridge, Co Down, saddled Clare Glen to land the featured Guinness Handicap. The mare got a terrific drive from Seamie Heffernan to come out on the right side of a rattling duel with Jumbo Rio through the final furlong.
“She loves a battle and I knew she wouldn’t give it away”, exclaimed Dawson. “She is as tough as they come. I only have a few horses and could do with a few more. She is the stable star and I wish I had eight more like her.”
Noel Meade had his second winner of the week when Sam Bass got the best of real set-to with Harangue and Monte Carlo in the Budweiser Index EBF Maiden.
The three of them went toe-to-toe through the last furlong, with Sam Bass crossing the line a short head and the same in front of his rivals.
Commented Meade: “He got beaten a short head at Roscommon when I thought he’d won and I thought he was beaten tonight.
“He shows a lot of boot at home and you’d never think he wants a mile and a half. He jumps well and that’s the plan.”
The stewards held an inquiry, but that was a waste of time and an alteration to the placings was never a possibility.
The Weld-Smullen combination was very unlucky not to add another winner to their tally with Along Came Casey in the Arthur Guinness Handicap.
She was almost on the floor after a furlong and was left with an impossible task. To her credit, she made up a huge amount of ground, but could never reel in 25-1 shot, Cash Or Casualty, who was driven ahead before the home turn by Ben Curtis.
Cash Or Casualty was a first for Balbriggan, Co Dublin trainer, Damian English. He has just six horses in his care, two for the flat and four for the National Hunt game.
“I’ve only been training for eight months”, said English. “I had a bad fall in a point-to-point and decided to try this game.”
Jim Gorman had a welcome turn when Kingdomforthebride over-turned hot-pot Makalali in the Guinness EBF Auction Maiden.
The principals had a real battle from a fair way out, with Chris Hayes just forcing the winner to a short head victory.
The pair came very close in the straight, with each mildly hampering the other in turn. A stewards’ inquiry was quickly called, but the decision to allow the result to stand was undoubtedly the correct one.
Aidan O’Ryan represented Gorman and said: “She’s tough, keeps going and that ground would be fast enough for her.”
Tony Martin struck for the first time at the meeting when Another Ambition popped up at 14-1 in the Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase.
It was an eventful contest, with clear leader, Aberdale, falling at the fifth last. Got Attitude, who was always prominent, then held the call when slipping to the floor between the last two fences
It is doubtful, however, if any of them would have coped with the winner in any case. Beautifully handled by Davy Condon, he was on a real going day.
Another Ambition arrived up hill to the home turn doing handstands and only had to be asked for the minimum to beat Sea Stallion by four and a half lengths. “There was always a day like that in him”, reported Martin. “The ground was too quick at Bellewstown, he came back a bit jarred.
“He has disappointed on occasions, but it all came right here.”
The attendance was a whopping 25,240, up from 22,054 last year.
