MARK Weld took his son Alister racing at Naas last weekend and it’s safe to say that the 13-year-old first year student in Wesley College will not be a professional jockey.

“Alister loves the outdoors and has a huge interest in breeding,” his father reports. “Over the past two years he has been my rock on the farm and was doing things with mares that not many boys of his age would be doing. He also has a flock of pedigree sheep.”

Pedigree buffs might see a bit of grandfather Dermot in Alister, and Mark says great-grandmother Marguerite would be thrilled to see the next generation keeping up the family tradition.

Mark and his wife Zoe also have a 10-year-old daughter, Beatrix. “Both of our children missed going racing during Covid,” Mark said. “And, to be honest, it has been hard to keep them interested at that age. It’s been great to get them back to the racecourse again.”