Weld hoping for another great Galway Dermot Weld insists he will be "more than satisfied" if he can reach anywhere near the double-figure mark at this week's Galway Festival. The master of Rosewell House has been the king of Ballybrit for many years and heads into this week looking to be crowned the Festival's leading trainer for a remarkable 27th time. Weld saddled a staggering 17 winners at the 2011 Galway Festival, bettering his previous best of 11 a year earlier. Twelve months ago the trainer rattled off nine victories, but with a smaller team assembled this time around, he would be pleased with a similar result. Weld told Irishhorse.tv: "If we can even get close to that (nine) this year, we'll be more than satisfied. "We'll probably have less runners in Galway this year. We've had less runners throughout the year because we've less horses." Weld insists his Galway record is more by chance than design, with his horses generally peaking at this time of year, rather than being specifically targeted at this meeting. He said: "I think it just evolved. It becomes a great time of year, there's some wonderful prize-money. "The ground is normally good to firm, which suits my horses. "Horses came good at that time of year and I've always enjoyed Galway. "I rode my first winner there at 15 years of age and it has gone forward from there. It's been very lucky for me down the years." Weld saddles six runners as the Festival gets under way on Monday evening. Ruby Walsh is a notable jockey booking aboard Diplomat in the opening galwaybayhotel.com Novice Hurdle (5.10), while Jane Mangan partners Notable Graduate in the feature Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap (6.45). It is also of interest that Weld has chosen star apprentice Connor King to partner top-weight Pay Day Kitten in the Galway Oyster Hotel Handicap (7.45). The trainer's opening day team is completed by Mustajeeb (6.10), Peace Accord (7.15), and Marty's Magic (8.15).
