Famous Name on his way to an easy win in the Listed Heritage Stakes

  PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)  

Report: Leopardstown, Sunday

Heritage Stakes (colts geldings) (Listed race) 1m (4yo+)

FAMOUS NAME continued his mastery of Leopardstown with a successful defence of the Heritage Stakes on his seasonal return.

The popular six-year-old, trained by Dermot Weld, extended his unbeaten sequence in Listed and Group 3 contests at the track to six with an easy win.

Sent off the 2-13 favourite,  Famous Name was hampered neither by the good ground nor by his three rivals when breezing into the lead at the two-furlong marker under jockey Pat Smullen.

The Eoin Griffin-trained Finicius finished second.

Weld said: “It’s horses like him that you need. He’s a joy to train. He’s six now but seems to have maintained his enthusiasm and ability. Pat Smullen said he gave a blow a furlong out.

“The target is a Group 1 but there are no plans yet and I’ll have to talk to Lord Grimthorpe [racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah].”