Choice shows steel for Weld

A drop in trip was no problem for Galileo’s Choice as he took Group Three honours in the Kilternan Stakes at Leopardstown.

Dermot Weld’s five-year-old was a winner over hurdles at the Galway Festival and subsequently followed up over two miles and a furlong at Killarney.

Dropping back to a mile and a quarter, Pat Smullen’s mount (13-2) took a couple of lengths out of the field before the turn for home and maintained his advantage to score by a length and a quarter.

Look At Me finished off her race well to fill the runner-up spot, but her stablemate Viscount Nelson, the 13-8 favourite, was a big disappointment.

Weld said: ``That was very pleasing, and it was a very good ride by Pat.

“He’s a very adaptable horse and I thought he’d win as he’d been working very well.

“I wanted to see if he had this kind of pace.

“I’ve entered him in the Melbourne Cup. Everybody thought I’d gone mad, but I might not have.

“He’s a horse with a lot of talent and a horse who has had lots of little problems, but hopefully he can continue on his way.”