Stuccodor primed for Irish Lincolnshire Dermot Weld is confident Stuccodor will run a "very big race" as he bids for successive victories in the Tote Irish Lincolnshire at the Curragh on Sunday. The 100,000 euro contest is the centrepiece of an excellent card on the first day of the Flat turf season and Stuccodor delighted favourite-backers 12 months ago when striking gold in the hands of stable jockey Pat Smullen. The six-year-old's only subsequent start in 2014 saw him claim a creditable third in a Listed event at Cork and he was last seen finishing runner-up over hurdles at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day. With Stuccodor heading the 26-runner field this time around, Weld has booked talented 5lb claimer Luke Dempsey to lessen the burden. "He's very well and while the plan had been the Lincoln at Doncaster, he wants soft ground and it wasn't looking likely that they would get it over there, so I'm happy to keep him at home with there being rain forecast for here over the weekend," Weld said. "I think he'll run a very big race. I'm keen to claim off him. He (Dempsey) rode Hisaabaat for me at Cheltenham and I was very impressed with everything about him. Every little thing I asked him to do, he did it. He's a young guy with a big future." Weld also runs the Smullen-ridden Defining Year. A three-pronged British challenge over the straight mile includes the George Baker-trained Boomshackerlacker, who is fit and raring to go following some decent efforts on the dirt at Meydan this year. The trainer said: "We decided to run here rather than Doncaster as the ground is softer. I'm delighted with him, he ran well out in Dubai and has come back in great heart. He holds no secrets, but should run his usual honest race." Sophie's World is a big outsider for trainer Alan Fleming, but owner Barry Connell believes she could outrun her odds. He said: "She's a nice dual-purpose mare and we're looking forward to running her. Adrian (Heskin) rode her in Down Royal the last day and she was going to win her maiden hurdle until she fell at the second-last. "We decided after that we'd give her a break and run her through the summer on the Flat and over hurdles. I think she'll give a good account of herself on Sunday."
