Baseman gets off the mark for Weld & Orr Baseman (9/4) was given a confident ride by Oisin Orr to take the Raheen Maiden for trainer Dermot Weld. Orr, registering his twelfth winner of the campaign, bided his time on the Juddmonte-bred colt before making headway early in the straight. The 7/4 favourite Lord Luker had travelled well to hit the front at this stage but he was collared inside the final furlong as Baseman moved on to win by a length and a half. The winner had gone close on his debut at Tipperary last year but lost all chance at the start when slowly away on his seasonal reappearance at Gowran. The blinkers applied on that occasion were replaced by first-time cheekpieces here, and the son of Kingman and the stable’s dual Group 3 winner Big Break got off the mark at the fourth time of asking. "They are getting into the ground and all the rain we got was a big help to him,” said Orr. “I travelled everywhere, quickened up nicely and when I did get there he was probably only doing enough. "He was nice first time out, then he disappointed and he is coming back to form now. Hopefully he will progress and keep going forward." Quotes from Thomas Weekes
