Weld off the mark for Galway 2019

Dermot Weld’s first winner of Galway 2019 arrived in the finale on day five, the Rockshore Apple Cider Race with Hasanabad (6/1).

Four Rosewell House second placers during the week were consigned to memory as the Chris Hayes-ridden four-year-old put in a commendable performance to concede weight to most of his rivals in the extended mile six stamina test.

The son of Nathaniel kept on willingly from the front to see off market leaders Sneaky Getaway (15/8) and The King (evens) by a length and a half and half a length.

"It was a good tactical ride from Chris, he was always travelling nicely and it was a good performance by the horse," said Weld.

"He is in the Sales at Doncaster next week and that will probably be his next venture. He is a big strong horse and will make a nice national hunt horse for somebody and that is what he is ideal for. I thought he'd be hard to beat here today and making the running was always in my thoughts.

"We are not running that many horses (this week) and have had five or six seconds. I'm not using an excuse but when you're drawn 18 or 17 it is very very difficult. My two year old colt ran a super race on Monday but again the draw is so important as the winner was drawn in 1 and we were in 5 and it was the same in the Listed race and if you change those draws around, you'd get a different result.

"The team we brought here wasn't our strongest, I was well aware of it and was very quiet about them, but they are running well and that's as good as they are."

(TW & EM)