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Weld off and running with Timiyan

Timiyan moves ahead of Resiliency in GalwayTimiyan moves ahead of Resiliency in Galway
© Photo Healy Racing

The first of Dermot Weld’s winners at this year’s Galway Festival came in the mile and a half handicap with 3/1 second favourite Timiyan

The ‘King of Ballybrit’ had to wait until race six on the first day, but the three year-old gelding did him proud on his first attempt in handicap company. Resiliency is a well-named horse as he made it a true test from the front. Annus Mirabilis who had tracked him in second, soon cracked when off the bridle under half a mile out. Timiyan though picked up the chase and edged ahead on the home straight. He was ridden out by Pat Smullen to score by five lengths.

Dermot Weld said: “He’s a nice staying horse. They went a cracking gallop all the way and he got a great ride from Pat. The step up in trip helped and being gelded helped too. He’s a late-maturing horse who appreciated the better ground. The mile and a half suits him well.

“The ground is a bit quicker than I anticipated. It’s beautiful quick ground, but it is getting a bit quick for the jumps boys.

“Grecian Tiger was beaten by a better horse (Quick Jack) and the two-year-old (Postulation) was probably beaten by a very good horse (Jamaica) who is probably Group company and he isn’t Group company.”

Timiyan had been unplaced in three maiden races, the furthest of which came over a mile and one.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

1st
3/1
Tote €3.50 €1.70
2nd
5L
11/2
€1.50
3rd
6.5L
5/2Fav
€1.50
4th
1.75L
10/1
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.