RACING/Clonmel report: Dermot Weld, fresh from a Downpatrick double on Monday, repeated the feat at Clonmel last night, combining with stable jockey Pat Smullen to share in the brace.
Weld runners were expected to take the first two races, but whilst that didn't materialise, Caroca, their only other runner at the meeting, came good in the third event, the 33 to 60 handicap. The daughter of Theatrical, prompted the trainers son Chris to say, "it was worth the trip" after she led inside the final furlong for a two-length win.
Monaser set the ball rolling by justifying odds of 8 to 11 in the opening maiden. The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned colt had to work hard to beat Real Empire by three-parts of a length.
The only reverse of the evening for Weld came in the claimer. Here market leader Pharaoh Prince could manage no better than 11th behind Laoise Beag, who repeated her course and distance win of last June. Again making all, Rory Cleary's mount stayed on well for a seven-length success.
With 2003 Lincoln winner, Pablo and well-touted bumper performer Bold Jack Donohue appearing at the end of the card, the headlines were expected to emerge late on. However, both of them fluffed their lines. The latter, a 4 to 7 chance, raced freely under J P Magnier and couldn't raise his game in the straight, the spoils going to Florida Belle ridden by Jamie Codd.
Pablo (cut behind) was light in the market in the maiden hurdle and could manage no better than sixth, as Ruby Walsh led approaching the last on Frances Crowley's Story Nine, going on to score by a length and a half.
Paul Gallagher (17) from the Curragh rode his second winner aboard Frank Lacy's Onforatwist in the three-year-old maiden hurdle. His initial success had come on Stable Whisper for the same yard last month. Stylish Dane (9 to 10 favourite) had looked a likely scorer when arriving to challenge two out, but jinking sharply he threw away his chance. Onforatwist, a daughter of Courtship, stayed on best for a length and a half win.
Andrew McNamara junior teamed up with his father to partner his seventh winner since turning professional when Terrappio led before two out and kept on from the last for a length success.
Kevin Darley came in for the plum spare ride on Red Bloom at York yesterday and kept the Cheveley Park Stud bandwagon rolling along with another victory. Red Bloom was due to be ridden by Kieren Fallon in the Group Three sportingoptions.co.uk Betting Exchange Strensall Stakes, but the champion was of course unable to take any of his mounts.
With Darley in the saddle, Red Bloom (evens) took a while to get the better of long-time leader Babodana before digging deep to hold off Salselon by half a length, with only a length covering the four runners.
Into The Dark put up a smart performance to complete a hat-trick under Frankie Dettori in the Elite Homes Garrowby Handicap, making all the running and keeping up the gallop in good style to beat Secretary General by two and a half lengths.
The Rainbow Quest colt (evens) is in the St Leger (33 to 1) but Rule Of Law is the stable's main hope.
