Weld eager for rain ahead of Swelter’s Guineas date

Dermot Weld would prefer to see some rain at the Curragh ahead of Swelter’s bid for glory in Sunday’s Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas.

The Juddmonte-owned filly is unbeaten in two starts, on both good and good to yielding ground, but Weld thinks she would be even better on soft going and would prefer to have her favoured conditions for the mile Classic.

Speaking after the victory of the promising Pierre Royal at Gowran on Wednesday evening, Weld said: “She’s in good order. She’s very effective on soft ground and everything back from that she’ll be less effective on.

“That’s the concern but there is a chance of some rain and we’ll be hopeful.

“I walked the track at the Curragh (on Wednesday) and it’s fast. It’s not their fault as we only got two millimetres of rain.

“They’ll be watering it and will get it right. There is a good team there.”

The latest ground update issued by Curragh officials on Thursday morning on X read: “Following a dry, warm day and watering, the Curragh remains good, good to firm in places (selective watering). Temperatures in early 20s today, cooler tomorrow with possibility of 2-3mm (approx) of rain in the afternoon and 10-12mm (approx) in total through the weekend.”