Former champion Pat Smullen was seen at his brilliant and determined best when getting odds-on favourite Ceol Rua home a narrow winner of the Ladies Day At Ballinrobe Maiden in Ballinrobe last night.

Shaun Harley is preparing for the biggest opportunity of his brief training career as Muskatsturm lines up for the Hacketts Bookmakers Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh on Sunday.