Classic quotes for Weld stunner

Dermot Weld’s Stunning View earned quotes for next year’s Classics after an impressive display in the radissonhotelglaway.com (C&G) European Breeders Fund Maiden on the opening night of the Galway Festival.

Ridden by stable jockey Pat Smullen, the 4-9 favourite always moved with menace and pulled clear in the closing stages to score by three lengths from Banyan Tree.

The chestnut is now set for a step up in grade and William Hill were impressed enough to quote him at 25-1 for next year’s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Cashmans offer 33-1 about his chance in both the Guineas and the Derby at Epsom.

“He did it as we expected and thought he would do it. He’s a very nice colt and we’ve a lot to look forward to and we won’t be rushing him,” said Weld.

“It was very good maiden he ran in at the Curragh first time. We have him entered in the Goffs Million and the National Stakes and those are likely to be his next two races.”

It was the first leg of a double on the card for Weld who is renowned for his success at Ballybrit.

His Ghimaar appeared to have plenty on his plate under the top-weight in the carlton.ie/galwaycity (QR) Handicap but in fact prove far too good for his rivals.

The 10-1 chance travelled ominously well throughout under Robbie McNamara and was not hard pressed to come home two and a half lengths clear of Evening Rushour.

Weld, winning the race for the third year in succession, said: “He was the class horse but the weight was my worry. The slower they went the better it suited us and Robbie had him beautifully positioned.

“The ground was definitely a bit slower than he would have liked.”

The trainer did mention the Ebor at York as a possible target for the four-year-old but he does not hold an entry in the Knavesmire contest.

Weld’s Gratified was narrowly denied in the ghotel.ie & hotelmeyrick.ie Novice Hurdle by John O’Shea’s Moonlight Sapphire.

O’Shea said of the 6-1 chance: “We were hoping first-time blinkers would sharpen her up and the soft ground was a help.

“We’ve not got to the bottom of her stamina-wise yet. We may come back here on Saturday for a two-mile handicap on the Flat.”

The Jessica Harrington-trained No One Tells Me (9-2) showed a tenacious attitude when battling to victory in the galwaybayhotel.com Handicap Hurdle, the first leg of a double on the card for the trainer.

Harrington said: “The ground was a big worry but I couldn’t believe how well she was travelling. She won at Punchestown and to come back and win at Galway is great.

“We may see her out again during the week as she’s in such good old form.”

Harrington later hit the bullseye with Mosstown who knuckled down well under Shane Foley to hold off Not Til Monday in the hotelmeyrick.ie & ghotel.ie Handicap.

Liam McAteer and Danny Mullins combined to win the claregalwayhotel.ie Handicap with 9-1 shot Tellelle, while local trainer Paul Gilligan struck gold in the concluding irelandhotels.com INH Flat Race with Honours Graduate (8-1).