Dozen up for record-breaking Weld

Records at the Galway Festival and trainer Dermot Weld seem to go hand in hand but the Curragh handler reached new heights at Ballybrit this evening with the victory of Rainforest Magic in the opening Guinness (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle being his twelfth this week.

Weld set the previous best of eleven winners in a week at the Festival last year, having previously notched up ten victories on five different occasions.

“I'm very pleased for all concerned at Rosewell House. We have 80 of a staff and there are a lot of people in the background that do an awful lot of work. Jockeyship is so vital around Galway. You have to be in the right place at the right time, and that's how so many races are won around here. Both Robbie McNamara and Pat Smullen have done their job this week,” said a delighted Weld.

However perhaps worryingly for his rivals, Weld has no thoughts of sitting on his laurels and added, “It's a milestone but life goes on and we look ahead to the next race.”

In the race itself, Rainforest Magic, successful on the Flat here on Tuesday, proved a facile winner. Robbie McNamara sent him to the front two out, and the Montjeu gelding – a well-backed 5/4 favourite - stayed on powerfully to beat Clonsilla Fath (25/1) by four and a half lengths. Regal Obligation /a> (14/1) was another seven lengths adrift in third, with Mister Watzisname (33/1) fourth.

Alan Magee