Shahrur to score for Weld

FOR Dermot Weld, this is the final weekend in which he can hope to qualify a runner for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. This race usually over-fills and runners that have not run over jumps are the first to be balloted out.

He has had Shahrur and Stylish Allure standing by waiting for better ground but it never came right for them. Shahrur goes for the Kingdom Maiden Hurdle at Listowel this afternoon and while he showed no particular ability on the Flat, the word is that he has taken well to jumping.

He has an experienced Pegus Junior to beat. He looked a certain winner after the last at Naas last Saturday, only to be run out of it up the hill by Corn Abbey.

Jihaad credited Galway trainer Michael Kelly with his first winner when holding off Ziggy The Great by half a length at Thurles on Thursday. A 6lb penalty would seem at first sight a bit much but taking into account that he ran from 2lbs out of the handicap and that the runner-up was raised 1lb in yesterday's Irish ratings, it is an actual 3lb penalty and Jihaad should carry that to a repeat win in the Tarbert Handicap Hurdle.

Another Galway trainer, Pat Kelly, can be amongst the winners with Another Deadly. Tom Treacy, who won on him at Clonmel last month, again has the ride in the Spring Handicap Chase. Obviously a slow maturing sort, he is 10 years of age and that makes him a veteran novice, but he won on the bridle by 11 lengths from Carrolls Rock.

Scenic Route, trained by Tim Hyde for his wife and ridden by Tim Junior, has had no luck to date over fences. He was getting into a good challenging position at Gowran Park when falling at the third last fence and prior to that had been running in strong novice company when second to the Arkle Trophy placed Penndara at Punchestown. He looks a good bet in the Ballybunion EBF Beginners Chase.

Willie Mullins has been giving the bookmakers a hard time in recent weeks with his bumpers horses and they have obviously collected a sizeable following among punters. The SP of his latest winner at Thurles, Back To The Nest, was 11 to 10 against but pool betting as represented by Computote could only pay 5 to 1 on for a win and 10 to 1 on for a place. Ring Albert looks another winner in this category for the stable