Merchant completes hat-trick Merchant Royal completed a hat-trick in the Arctic Tack Stud Hunters Chase, although the Dermot Weld-trained gelding needed to be driven right out by Robbie McNamara in the closing stages to hold off the persistent challenge of Viking Splash. The Kayf Tara gelding, who carries the colours of the trainer's son Kris, looked set for an easy victory as McNamara oozed confidence early in the straight. However he had to get serious on the 9/2 chance after a slight mistake at the last as Viking Splash (7/2), who looked well beaten two out, kept responding to Katie Walsh's urgings. Just a neck separated the pair at the line, while Rudi Trucker (10/1) could find no extra from before the last to finish another 13 lengths back in third. Kris Weld said, “That was very pleasing and it looked a good renewal of the race. I was very concerned about the ground and the fact that he had to give weight to nearly every other horse. “He put in a few spectacular jumps and just got a bit tired in the closing stages. He's lightly raced still even though he's an eight-year-old, and he'll go now for the Raymond Smith at Leopardstown on Hennessy day. “We'll see how he gets on there before making any more plans but I'd love to have a runner at the Cheltenham Festival.”
