Silver Concorde beats Rightdownthemiddle© Photo Healy Racing
Cheltenham bumper winner Silver Concorde warmed up for a novice hurdle campaign this winter when making a winning return to action on the Flat at Navan this afternoon.
Dermot Weld's charge was sent off 2/5 favourite for his first outing under Flat rules and cruised into contention in the straight in the two mile maiden.
Pat Smullen asked his mount to go on a furlong and a half out but had to get down to work in the closing stages to see off the attentions of 16/1 shot Rightdownthemiddle by three-parts-of-a-length.
The Dansili gelding was having his first run since Punchestown ,when Cheltenham runner-up Shaneshill had gained revenge on him in the Grade 1 bumper.
“He enjoyed his summer break, and this was a nice race to get him started again,” said the trainer's son Kris Weld.
“He probably won’t reappear over hurdles until around Christmas time. He’s a spring horse and wouldn’t want real heavy ground.”
Silver Concorde remains a 14/1 shot for the Supreme Novice Hurdle with Boylesports.
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
