Making Light gets Weld off to a fine start with Group 3 victory for Leigh Roche

Making Light got Dermot Weld's campaign off to a bright start when landing the first Pattern race of the Irish Flat season, the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes, by half a length under Leigh Roche.

Roche was standing in for Pat Smullen, who missed his rides on the card due to a gallstone problem, and Roche found himself on the ground when Making Light ducked and unseated him on the way to the start before making her way riderless to the stalls.

All was well, however, and the incident clearly did not affect horse or jockey.