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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Universe completes Weld/Smullen treble

Thu 15th Sep 2016, 15:56

Hidden Universe leads them home at ListowelHidden Universe leads them home at Listowel
© Photo Healy Racing

Hidden Universe capped a fine day for Pat Smullen and Dermot Weld at Listowel when completing a hat-trick for the pair in the Behans Horseshoe Bar & Restaurant Handicap.

The veteran campaigner was sent off 3/1 joint favourite for the one-mile six-furlong contest and travelled well to hit the lead turning for home.

Smullen asked him to go clear over a furlong from home and although Face Value ran on well in the closing stages he could only get within a length-and-three-quarters. Barnacle Bill the other market leader, was a one-paced fourth.

Hidden Universe was dropping back in trip having been fourth in the Ulster Cesarewitch just six days ago. The former Grade 1 bumper winner was recording his eighth career victory, and his fourth on the Flat.

Smullen said:- "Everything was about right for him today, there was a good ease in the ground and while I wasn't sure he'd handle the gluey ground, he was back to a mark from which he could be competitive.

"He's been a great servant to the year for many a year and he's a bit of an old pet."

Mark Weld added:- "We're over the moon with that as he's an old warrior and we've always thought a lot of him.

"He is a big, gross horse with age so it took until now to get him fit.

"It's also was very important for (owner) Ronan Lambe to get a winner and I don't think anyone is riding as well as Pat is at the moment."

(Quotes by Thomas Weekes)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.