Weather shines at Tipperary The Jessica Harrington-trained Weather Watch got up late in a thrilling three-way finish to land the mile-and-a-half maiden at Tipperary. Feile Bride took them along and was pressed throughout by Gerdago. The pair were strongly pressed in the straight but stuck on at the head of affairs. Weather Watch was produced on their outer, by Emmet McNamara, to challenge inside the final furlong and just stuck his head out close home as the three battled it out. The 16/1 shot recorded a head victory with Gerdago eventually getting the better of long-time leader Feile Bride at the line for the runner-up spot. The winner, a Hurricane Run gelding, was showing significant improvement from his Curragh debut run last month when he had been well held in eleventh. Winning owner Patrick Cooper said afterwards:- “He didn't run any sort of race first time and this was very unexpected but it was great. We'll see what mark he gets now.” Kate Harrington, daughter of the trainer, revealed that it was McNamara's first winner for the yard. She added regarding the winner:- “He was very green the first day and he always takes a lot of work.” Hejaz was sent off the 2/1 favourite but couldn't pick up in the straight and kept on one paced to finish seventh of the eight. The Plan Man, the morning favourite, was a significant non-runner in the race, taken out due to the ground. (Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
