Juddmonte's Abbotsford lands big Naas handicap for Weld Lightly-raced three-year-old Abbotsford won the Colm White Bookmaker Beggar's End Handicap at Naas. The Juddmonte-bred son of Frankel, returned 14/1, tracked the leaders in the valuable two-mile contest and turned for home in third under Colin Keane. He was ridden to lead a furlong out and got home by two lengths and a neck from the Noel Meade pair Madbadanddangerous and Sir Jeremy “It was a good performance by him,” said Weld. “He got beat half-a-length in Bellewstown in a three-horse race, but the race had two horses in it rated 96 and 98. That’s the reason there were only three horses in it. “Those races should really be run at the Curragh or Leopardstown, but it happened to be in Bellewstown. “Joseph’s horse beat me half-a-length and I think he’s a very good horse. “I wasn’t at all surprised he won here today, in fact I quietly fancied him. “He’s a lovely big staying horse. He did it very well in Galway (when winning his maiden) and he’s just maturing all the time. “In Bellewstown, he was coming back at the line, that sharp mile-and-a-half around there was just a little bit tight for him. “The extra distance played into his hands today, he’s a lovely big horse. “He’s progressed as the year has gone on. We’ll speak with Barry (Mahon, racing manager) and speak with the family and make a decision then. The options are open.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
