Weld delighted as Waaheb sparkles
The JP McManus-owned five-year-old, winner of three bumpers early last year and making his hurdling debut, quickened impressively from the final flight under Mark Walsh to beat Silver Friend emphatically by six and a half lengths.
Weld commented: “He has a lot to learn He was a bit novicy and sketchy over the first few hurdles but improved as the race progressed. He won today in testing ground, but he wants nice ground. And next spring is his target.”
“He’s a talented horse, a horse with a lot of class and, please God, he will only improve from today. I’ll look for a ‘winners of one’ for him but, if the ground is heavy, we might for Christmas (Leopardstown). I’ll be in no hurry with him.”
Waaheb was cut to 12/1 by Paddy Power and 10/1 by Stan James (both from 16/1) for the Supreme Novices at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival.
Weld, who left soon after Waaheb’s race, completed a double when Expanding Universe justified 7/4 favouritism in the bumper, outstaying the flattering Curley Bill.
Winning rider Robbie McNamara said: “He’s lazy but has a good attitude and stays at it. He’ll make a nice hurdler.”
Paul Carberry, who successfully deputised for Andrew Lynch on The Boat People in Cork on Sunday, struck again for trainer Henry de Bromhead when well-backed Sizing Rio recorded a wide-margin win over odds-on favourite Cops And Robbers in the opening maiden hurdle.
Sent into the lead at the third last, the Heron Island stretched clear to triumph by 18 lengths. And a delighted de Bromhead commented: “He’s a lovely horse. He won his point to point well, but was very disappointing in his bumper in Punchestown. I was tempted to go for another bumper. But he loves jumping. So we decided to go this route. He’ll go for a ‘novice’ in three or four weeks.”
Another impressive maiden hurdle winner was the Dessie Hughes-trained Seefood, 12 lengths conqueror of Share Wood in the Hold An Event At Fairyhouse Maiden Hurdle.
“That was impressive,” declared trainer Hughes. “He might be good enough for the ‘novices’ after that performance. He definitely quickened off a strong pace. And Bryan said he’d have no problem dropping back to two miles. And he likes good ground.”
Davy Russell, out of luck on favourites Cops And Robbers and War Correspondent ijn the maidens, enjoyed better luck when Noel Brett’s Dactik raised 12lb.for a recent win over course and distance, followed-up in the Follow Fairyhouse On Twitter Handicap Hurdle.
The six-year-old forged clear on the run-in to beat Underthefloorboards by three and a quarter lengths. And Brett admitted: “He surprised us the last day and won well today. Maybe he’s turning a different page.”
And Willie Mullins was successful with his only runner, Away We Go, formerly trained by Timmy Cleary, in the three-mile handicap hurdle, Paul Townend’s mount emerging with a head to spare over the gallant Ballygill Gale after a protracted battle.
Away We Go, rated 30lb. lower hurdles than over fences, was having his first run for Mullins, who said: “He did it nicely and will probably stay over hurdles for the time being. In the longer term, we’ll probably mix-it with him, hurdles and fences. I liked the way he put his head down and battled. And we might campaign him over a variety of distances.”
