Never to be outdone by Ballydoyle, trainer Dermot Weld saddled A Word Apart to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Leopardstown today, thwarting an Aidan O’Brien five-timer.

O’Brien, whose Cape Blanco #8217;s Champion Stakes win was one of four on the day for the Ballydoyle maestro, was represented by newcomer Long Live The King and 11/10 favourite Eagle Canyon each finishing second and third respectively behind Weld’s three and a half lengths winner.

Afterwards Weld stated “A Word Apart ran a cracking race here the last day and is a big, progressive type colt who had been working well at home.”

A Word Apart is a half-brother to Weld’s Epsom Derby placed Casual Conquest (subsequently gelded), who Weld reported on the road to recovery following a leg injury suffered in last year’s Irish Champion Stakes. Weld stated “Casual Conquest may return to racing in a few weeks time and, provided he makes a full recovery, down the line he could make into a very high class national hunt horse.”