Dermot Weld the man to follow today

Our favourite trainer Dermot Weld is the man to follow today; he runs Pale Mimosa in the Group One at Longchamp, but it is interesting that he keeps his stable jockey Pat Smullen at home, and the team could well win several races at Leopardstown. Main event here is the November Handicap over 1 miles 7 furlongs at 16.25 CET, where Weld has 2 runners, including recent irish Cesarewitch runner-up Hidden Universe, Smullen´s (and our) choice. With 23 runners this is of course wide open, and last year´s winner Sir Ector (James Lambe/ Ronan Whelan), smart hurdler Orgiglo Bay (JC McConnell/ Gary Connell) are obvious dangers as well as the two British raiders. We would also mention Eye of the Tiger (Johnny Murtagh/ Ben Curtis); "never forget a horse´s best form" they say, and that was when he won the Gerling-Preis (!!) in 2010. Other Weld/ Smullen runners with a chance are debutant Zawraq in the 2yo maiden at 14.10 (up against a 3.6 million guineas yearling of Aidan´s!), plus Afternoon Sunlight and Zafilani in the listed races at15.15 and 15.50. Weld can also score at the Irish N.H. meeting at Galway, where his runner Windsor Park (Robbie McNamara) looks almost unbeatable in the bumper at 17.15. Ruby Walsh is being very selective with his rides at present, and he can win on both his mounts here, Un Beau Romain at 14.55 and Celtic Abbey at 16.05.

Both the U.K. meetings today are over jumps and consist mainly of tricky handicaps. The going is still on the firm side at Wincanton which has led to several non-runners. One who will like the conditions (despite his pedigree) is German-bred Lyssio (Jim Best/ Rhys Flint) at 17.40. He was 8th in the 2010 German Derby, and 5th in the same race was Lamool (Tim Vaughan/ Michael Byrne), who runs in the handicap chase at 16.50 at Aintree.