Smullen records Curragh treble, two for Weld

Maneen continued his development with a second career win when making a winning handicap debut in the Joanna Lumley 70th Birthday Celebration Handicap at Curragh today, providing trainer Dermot Weld with a double and jockey Pat Smullen with a treble.

Maneen races in the colours of Michael Burke's (father of Chanelle McCoy) Chanelle Phar Ltd and, having previously landed a Limerick maiden, successfully stepped into handicap company today when recording a two lengths win over Newsman

Weld, earlier successful with Fascinating Rock in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, later stated “he battled when he won in Limerick the other day, handled the ground today and got a lovely positive ride from Pat.

“We'll see where we go now and see what the handicapper thinks of the race.

“A mile-and-a-quarter is about right for him, he has plenty of pace and I actually thought that over the mile and 100 yards up the hill at Galway he would come home awful well.

“We'll look at the Colm Quinn BMW Mile but the handicapper will decide all.”

Smullen, who was celebrating his 39th birthday today, was himself earlier successful on Creggs Pipes and Fascinating Rock.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson