Strong Curragh hand for Weld

Racing: Dermot Weld is planning a strong raid on next weekend's Group One prizes at the Curragh.

Racing:Dermot Weld is planning a strong raid on next weekend's Group One prizes at the Curragh.

The County Kildare handler is aiming Truly Mine at Saturday's Audi Pretty Polly Stakes and Prince Erik at the Budweiser Irish Derby the following day.

Of the first-named inmate, he said: "Truly Mine is a nice filly and we're going to let her take her chance in the Pretty Polly.

"She ran an excellent race in the (Irish) 1000 Guineas, she's Group placed for me already, and we've nothing to lose.

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"If she happened to be placed in a Group One then we'd be delighted. She's a progressive horse and I think she's getting better."

Prince Erik finished just over four lengths behind last week's Queen's Vase hero Mahler when making his reappearance in April, before thrashing Red Rock Canyon over 10 furlongs in May.

"He's a nice horse and I think the Irish Derby is an open race this year but our horse is an outsider," Weld told At The Races.

"He's a progressive sort and a big fine horse who stays well and he's a nicely-bred horse by Indian Ridge.

"Definite Article was beaten a short-head for me in the Irish Derby and he was by Indian Ridge."

Prince Erik is a half-brother to National Hunt sensation Katchit, and Weld says there is always a possibility he could go over timber if things do not work out on the level.

"I think this horse is entitled to take his chance. We always said if this fellow doesn't do one job, he'll do another," he continued.

"We're going to run him in the Irish Derby and we have nothing to lose. If he doesn't make up into a Group horse then he could make a very exciting hurdler."