Weld: Aintree could be the next destination for Concorde

Niall Cronin

There aren't too many races in Leopardstown worth winning that Dermot Weld hasn't won.

Indeed, there aren't too many in Ireland and after yesterday there is one less as, with his first ever runner in the race, Dermot Weld saddled Majestic Concorde to win the Paddy Power Handicap Chase.

Ridden like a true professional, by one of the countries finest amateurs, Robbie McNamara yet again stood up to the mark and proved that if he was a stone lighter he would make a good living out of this riding lark.

The 22-year-old usually comes to the fore at Galway where Weld is so prominent, but Leopardstown has also been kind to him as Weld continues to plunge his trust in the young Limerick rider.

Suggested

McNamara's weight has cost him the chance to join his brother in the paid ranks and while Majestic Concorde's weight of 11st9lbs was no problem, it nearly cost him the ride Weld admitted. "I just felt the horse had a lot of weight and I suggested to Robbie about claiming off him and he didn't think it was a very good idea," Weld laughed.

"But he's class and just look at his record for me," the master of Rosewell House continued.

As for Majestic Concorde, the seven-year-old has a whole host of options and among those include a possible tilt back at the Galway Plate, maybe a return to Chester for the Chester Vase on the Flat.

Idea

When asked about heading to Aintree for the Grand National the trainer just responded with: "It's not a bad idea!"

McNamara was denied a big race double when just narrowly touched off by the brave performance of Jim Will Fix It in the concluding Grade Two bumper.

The Seamus Roche trained 8/1 chance was sent to the front turning for home by Stephen Byrne and held on despite drifting off the rail to deny 2/1 favourite Mississippi River.