'Normal service resumed' as Weld wins last

Robbie McNamara returned with a winning first ride back from injury at Leopardstown today when steering the Dermot Weld trained Windsor Park to win the concluding Donohoe Marquees (Pro/Am) Bumper.

McNamara, who fractured his collarbone before Christmas and missed the festive period, was at his confident best on the son of Galileo, making all before easing the gelding clear early in the home straight, eventually strolling home an easy five lengths winner over Marinero

Afterwards Weld stated “it's normal service resumed for Robbie McNamra!

“The horse learned a lot from the last day – Derek O'Connor (his rider then) said if he'd have ridden him before then, he'd have won on him but Robbie knows the horse and we all knew after the last day he is a staying horse.

“The plan was to make all the running and he was pretty impressive. He'll be even better on better ground and we'll see how he comes out of the race but we'll look for a winners' bumper. He has potential to be a Cheltenham horse and both he and Silver Concorde (stablemate of the winner and a winner over Christmas) are two very nice horses.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson