Former Champion Trainer Dermot Weld gained a somewhat belated first Flat winner of the year when his Stuccodor narrowly landed the Bennettsbridge Rated Race at Gowran today.

Ridden by Pat Smullen, the first timed visored son of Modigliani came out best in a photo finish, to edge out Euphrasia by a nose. The winner was completing a hat-trick of wins following two wins in Augist and September last year.

Afterwards Weld stated “he (Stuccodor) is a handicapper and will stick to handicaps over that trip.”

Regarding his start to the new season, he added “it was one of the coldest Marchs on record and my horses are slow coming to hand this year. As the weather improves, I expect them to improve.”

Quotes from Donal Murphy