Weld express rolls on with 27/1 treble
Thursday July 29 2010
Despite missing out on the big one with beaten favourite Majestic Concorde, the Dermot Weld express steamrolled through the undercard at Galway with a 27/1 treble.
Weld got the ball rolling when Endless Intrigue coasted to victory in the 12-furlong maiden for amateur riders. Twice successful in bumpers, the six-year-old had no difficulty in taking this prize for Robbie McNamara.
Weld made it eight winners for the week when Rock Critic, the 7/2 favourite, bolted up for Pat Smullen in the Tote Trifecta Rollover Handicap. And the master of Rosewell House then chalked up his ninth winner of the week when the Smullen-ridden Unaccompanied (13/8 favourite) claimed the concluding maiden.
"Everything is going well, the horses are running well and we have a good team here," said the on-song handler.
Hoopy (8/1) gave trainer Gordon Elliott a first victory at the Galway Festival when holding off King Of Redfield and surviving a stewards' inquiry in the Tote Jackpot Handicap Hurdle. There was nothing between the pair on the frantic run to the line and there did appear to be contact between the two principals in the dying strides, with Paul Carberry's mount getting the verdict by a neck.
However, John 'Shark' Hanlon, trainer of the runner-up, later announced he would be appealing the decision.
"My horse was interfered with not just once, but twice and Paul Carberry had his stick in the wrong hand and made no effort to change it over to the correct one," he said.
"For a neck margin, and the fact that my horse was coming with a fast run, I will appeal."
Elliott was out of luck in the opening novice hurdle as his well-fancied Final Day had to play second fiddle to Ballyadam Brook, trained by Terence O'Brien.
The six-year-old powered clear under Paul Townend to beat his fellow 2/1 joint-favourite by three and a half lengths.
Novel Investment (10/1) proved a shrewd bet in the Tote Telebet Handicap Hurdle as Tom Doyle and the John Brassil-trained gelding had three and a half lengths in hand of the 13/2 favourite Mr Bones at the line.
Later, Kevin Manning worked the oracle aboard Jessica Harrington's New Magic (4/1) to win the totegoracingclub.com Handicap.
- Damien McElroy
Irish Independent
