Winning return for Roe

Vinnie Roe made a tremendous comeback at Leopardstown tonight when romping away with Saval Beg Stakes as he warmed up for the Ascot Gold Cup.

Successful in both the Irish and French St Legers last autumn, the top weight produced a devastating finish for champion jockey Pat Smullen to defeat the 9-2 chance Crimphill by four lengths with the favourite Holy Orders less than a length back in third.

'He is a proper horse and I`m delighted with him. He loves a battle and quickened up very well,' said jockey Smullen of the 2-1 winner.

The post-race reaction of leading Irish bookmaker Paddy Power understandably was to cut Vinnie Roe`s price from 11-2 to 7-2 favourite for the Royal Ascot event.

'He was very impressive, particularly as I was worried beforehand on the score of fitness and having 10st 1lb to carry. Now we head to Ascot,' said trainer Dermot Weld who part-owns the colt with English based Mike Watt and the main owner Jim Sheridan, the well-known film producer.

'This horse has done well over the winter and will continue to progress, and the ultimate target is the Melbourne Cup. We don`t know whether he will stay the trip at Ascot, but he relaxes well and is a stayer with finishing pace,' added Weld.

The son of Definite Article did not wear his customary blinkers for this mile-and-six-furlong Listed event and Weld said he will have to think about putting them back on at Ascot.

'They just help him concentrate and I haven`t hesitated in the past either to put them on horses every bit as brave as him,' Dermot added.

Weld also indicated that his leading three-year-old colt, In Time`s Eye, will not now be lining up for the Vodafone Derby at Epsom on Saturday week.

'I have made my mind up that the horse is still a little immature and we will be waiting now for the Irish Derby. We will look at the Gallinule Stakes for him in the meantime,' the trainer explained.