Weld & Smullen double up with Timiyan

Timiyan defied a sixteen pound rise for winning at Galway as he followed up in the McEnery Cup Handicap to provide Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen with a quick double.

The three old son of Ghostzapper won by an easy five lengths on his handicap debut at Galway and he was sent off a 7/2 chance this evening.

After leading early he was soon settled in second and was ridden from two furlongs out.

He got to the front a furlong and a half from home and he kept on well from there to score by four and a quarter lengths. Ebadani who led for most and was backed from 13/2 to 5/1, ran a fine race to finish second under Conor Hoban for Mick Halford while Stocktons Wing was a further half a length back in third under Fran Berry for Charles O’Brien (7/2 to 5/1). Primogeniture went off the 3/1 favourite (from 4’s) under Sean Corby for John Oxx but he could only manage a disappointing fourth despite being twenty-two pounds better off with the winner from when they met at Galway.

Dermot Weld said afterwards: "It was a good staying performance. He's a horse that has progressed and developed as the year has gone on.

"Well take it one day at a time with him and see where we go. Physically he has developed considerably as the year has gone on and that's one of the main reasons for his success.

"He's getting stronger and is a big strong horse now. I'm hopeful he'll make it outside of handicap company in staying races.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson