Watch The Weather (orange cap) © Photo Healy Racing
Watch The Weather (4/1) recorded his first success over fences when running out a snug winner of the the Jim And Kay Whitty Memorial Handicap Chase in the hands of Danny Gilligan.
A three-time winner over hurdles, the Sean Connors-owned Kayf Tara gelding was held up in touch towards the rear before making smooth progress to head front-runner Mr Saxobeat at the second-last and was just pushed out to beat that rival by six lengths.
Trainer Ray Cody said: "The plan was to run him yesterday at Galway. He was declared on good ground and obviously it went yielding to soft, so it would have been a waste of time.
"We ran him on heavy in Listowel the last day and Conor Stone-Walsh said he hated it all the way and never went. Even today I was a little bit worried would the yielding ground be quick enough for him.
"He has a little bit of a wind problem and needs everything to go right, but he got a very, very good ride today. I told Danny to just drop him out and fill him with confidence and leave him on the bridle as long as he could.
"He is a good horse when things go right for him, but he can be very in and out a bit. He struggles to win but I'm delighted for his owner.
"He obviously likes it here, he won here before and was third twice in two beginners'.
"As soon as the ground turns soft or heavy he will be left off, but we might get a bit of nicer ground at some of the better tracks. We will probably keep him on the go for a little bit longer anyway and he'll go on his holidays then.
"I'd imagine we'll stick to fences with him for the time being anyway, he jumps well, he is very good to jump, he knows what he is doing."
Quotes from Donal Murphy
