Dermot Weld has already saddled a record 13 winners so far this week, and it is long odds-on that the master of Rosewell House will add to that tally with another three short-priced favourites carrying stable hopes this afternoon.
Duc De Savoie (lame) doesn't line up for the opening maiden hurdle (2.25pm) but Weld still has the hot favourite (4/7 best) with Natural High Carbon Credit (lame) is also out of this two miles event.
Another significant non-runner is Silverhand in the following 2m6f handicap hurdle, a race Noel Meade's charge won last year. However the grey is lame following a creditable effort in the Galway Hurdle on Thursday.
Weld is represented by top-weight Blue White Fire in the nursery (3.30), and the Montjeu colt (reportedly working well by his trainer) is generally a 5/4 chance. Rock Critic provided Weld with one of his victories earlier this week, and the son of Pivotal is best at evens with Paddy Power for the seven furlongs Premier Handicap (4.00). Victor Chandler took evasive action slashing the lightly-raced six-year-old from 11/10 into 8/11, while Coral go 10/11 (from 11/10).
The two-year-old maiden is all about one horse, Mannheim Aidan O'Brien's Galileo youngster is a top-priced 4/6 with Powers, while Boylesports cut him from 10/11 to 4/7. Weld's Hit The Jackpot has accordingly drifted out to 7/2.
Alan Magee
