Aydoun gets Weld off the mark

Aydoun provided Dermot Weld with his first winner of the week at Galway, as he took the opening O'Leary Insurances Maiden Hurdle in good style.

A respectable third on his debut over flights on Monday, the chestnut son of Mastercraftsman was fitted with cheekpieces for the first time today.

Sent off a 13/2 chance he was settled in mid-division by Bryan Cooper, improving into a closer fifth from before two out.

He soon came with his challenge on the outer, and hit the front after the last, stretching clear under pressure on the run-in to score by six lengths.

The 11/8 favourite Big Ben had to settle for second under Barry Geraghty for Joseph O'Brien, while Shinghari (20s this morning and from 5s to 4s on-course) was another six and a half lengths away in the third for Denis Hogan.

Bryan Cooper said afterwards: "His run the last day was good. He had a little blow on me so we put the cheekpieces on him to sharpen him up a bit. I was worried what he'd find when he came off the bridle but to be fair he found plenty, and he won going away.

"He had a very good run the first day when he won, but I suppose he just fell apart a bit then. The hurdles seem to bring out the best in him, and he likes that soft ground as well.

"The good thing about riding for Mr Weld is he doesn't tie you down to instructions. He left it up to me, he said follow the couple of fancied ones and if he is there at the last have a pop and hopefully he'll keep going.

"There is plenty of novices between now and Christmas and I think he will really handle soft ground so we'll see how Mr Weld places him."

STEWARDS REPORT

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Ochto Milano trained by Garrett James Power was found to have blood at the nose following Exercise Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee