Weld doubles up with Duke

Dermot Weld completed a double on the day and brought his tally this week to six wins when first reserve Maunsells Duke took the Tote Daily Double Handicap under Pat Smullen.

The 11/2 chance challenged on the outer entering the straight, and struck the front a furlong out before staying on well to beat Hot Sand (20/1) by three lengths. Solar Sail (14/1) was a further three quarters of a length back in third, with Badger Or Bust (9/1) fourth. Beauthea was all the rage here (8/1 in to 5/1 favourite but could find no more in the straight finishing eleventh.

Weld said, “We decided to change tactics today and drop him out as he was drawn so wide (stall 17). They went pretty fast which helped, and he came home well. I was disappointed with him at Killarney where he was never going but he's a bit of a character.”

Alan Magee