Punchestown Festival: Silver Concorde set to spearhead Weld team

Curragh trainer enjoying excellent strike rate in opening exchanges of flat season

Dermot Weld: knows what is required to land the Grade One feature having scored with Hidden Universe four years ago. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Dermot Weld: knows what is required to land the Grade One feature having scored with Hidden Universe four years ago. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho


Silver Concorde will lead Dermot Weld's small but select National Hunt team into next week's Punchestown Festival as the Cheltenham hero attempts to join a select group of champions.

The Dr Ronan Lambe-trained star will emulate Champagne Fever (2012) and Cousin Vinny (2008) if he can win Wednesday's attheraces Champion Bumper.


Weld strike rate
Weld knows what is required to land the Grade

One feature having scored with Hidden Universe four years ago while Vigil is another possible festival bumper starter.

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Meanwhile, the Curragh trainer’s start to this season’s flat-racing “day job” has been notably successful, clear at the top of the table with a one-in-three strike rate that could be improved upon even further at Gowran tomorrow.

I’m Yours was slightly disappointing on her reappearance at Navan behind Dazzling but is still just preferred in the Listed Victor McCalmont Stakes.

That's an ultra-competitive contest and Sparkle Factor looks to have a lot going for her in the seven-furlong fillies handicap. Of the six runners, four are out of the handicap proper but Sparkle Factor is out by just a pound and the useful Leigh Roche claims three. She won her maiden on heavy ground at Limerick but looks capable of much better on a sounder surface.

Sereza should be competitive in the fillies maiden.

Knock Beauty is on a four-timer at Limerick tomorrow and can continue to defy the handicapper.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column