Weld's Famous Name wins in Leopardstown

It was back to business as usual for Famous Name as he recorded a straightforward success in the Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown.

Dermot Weld’s prolific seven-year-old has a tremendous record at the Foxrock track, with 11 wins there now, but was last seen stuck in the mud in the Bet365 Mile at Sandown.

Sent off the 1-5 favourite, the Khalid Abdullah-owned entire was bagging his ninth Group Three victory and a hat-trick of Amethyst triumphs.

Pat Smullen sat in third before easing to the front a quarter of a mile out and Famous Name stretched well clear to win by four and a half lengths from former Lincoln winner Sweet Lightning, who put in an encouraging effort on his return from over a year off.

Weld said: “He’s an amazing horse. I would believe that’s a record for wins here, certainly most stakes race wins.

“He’s a wonderful horse to train and loves being a racecourse. He’ll go for the Tattersalls Gold Cup. He has been second in it before.

“He was unlucky at Sandown (third to Penitent) when the ground was just about raceable. He wants just a bit of cut in the ground.

“He will travel throughout the year and should come back for the (Irish) Champion Stakes here later in the year.”