Weld & Smullen strike in big one with Tandem

"Obviously the horses haven't been running as well as you'd hope but these things happen and the boss has been very patient. We've run very few horses," said Pat Smullen after winning the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF "Nasrullah" Premier Handicap on Tandem at Leopardstown.

The likes of third placed Tennessee Wildcat finished off well from off the pace, but up front Tandem (12/1) toughed it out well to defeat Ceol Na Nog by three parts of a length. Now an eight-year-old, Tandem also won this back in 2013.

"This horse has been very well at home and hopefully it's a sign of things to come for the second half of the year," further explained Smullen.

"He was very very well at home and you'd have been disappointed if he didn't put up a big show.

"Obviously it was a competitive race and he was up there with top weight or near enough to it but we were hopeful as he's a good consistent horse.

"As regards Galway I haven't thought about it. This time of year in years gone by you'd be pretty clued up as to what was going to happen.

"This time we're going in there just hoping to have runners and to do well. We'll take it as it comes.

"Without the stable being in top form I think that was still my 30th winner of the year. Obviously it's not where we want to be but we're not out of it (the jockey's championship) and I don't lie down that easily."

For his part winning trainer Dermot Weld said: "It's hard to believe that it's four years since he won the same race. He's a model of consistency, and we'll probably have to go into Stakes level with him now.

"He got a magnificent ride from Pat, and he'd the race won a long way out. I'm delighted for the Bellamy Syndicate that own him and they have been great supporters of mine.

"The mile Premier Handicap at Galway is a possibility as the pace they go in that you want a horse that stays a bit further than a mile and a 100 yards. He will be entered in it but I'd see him running at Stakes level from now on."

(AM & EM)