“It’s like old times” Dermot Weld said as he rolled back the years with a fabulous four timer at Leopardstown on Wednesday.
The highlight undoubtedly was 3/1 fancy Imaging winning the Listed contest, the Heritage Stakes under the talented Oisin Orr.
Weld said: “He’s a consistent Stakes horse and he’ll head for a Group Race now, possibly the Gladness Stakes if it doesn’t come too soon. Oisin gave him a lovely ride and that’s his first big race winner.”
“People said he couldn’t claim his 3 lbs claim here, but I wasn’t worried about that. He rides out for me a couple of days a week now.”
Orr was also aboard Titanium Sky for Weld as she landed some tasty little bets – 10/1 to “eights” – when landing the fillies maiden.
She clearly wasn’t much fancied on her debut at Gowran Park on her only run as a juvenile as she was sent off a 50/1 shot – a very rare price for a Weld runner to say the very least of it – but clearly a few people fancied her chances this time as she beat Silk Forest by a length and a half with the Mick Halford trained third home, 25/1 poke Hamarinya, going into many notebooks.
Declan McDonogh was the main Weld pilot last year but seems to be out favour right now and Chris Hayes could benefit most. He booted home the first two winners for Curragh master trainer Weld. Tarnawa, an even money jolly, was a popular winner in the opener and Tinandali took the ten furlongs colts and geldings maiden at 5/1.
Weld said of Tarnawa: “She did what we expected. She could run in the Blue Wind next. She was only getting going at the line there and is from a good staying family.”
Jim Bolger is another veteran trainer who is taking the new season by storm and 13/2 chance Latchet stayed on smartly for Kevin Manning in a ten furlongs handicap.
She has been kept busy at Dundalk, and Bolger tends to strike quickly when the iron is hot with his handicappers and it would be no surprise to see Latchet follow up over the same trip in an apprentices handicap at Cork tomorrow.
Join Declan’s Irish Racing Service now to get his Grand National tips today and a look at the Guineas Trials at Leopardstown.
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