Smullen regains lead in title race

Pat Smullen re-established a narrow lead (73-72) over Joseph O’Brien in the battle for the Jockeys Championship when completing a double for Dermot Weld on juveniles Bracing Breeze and Mouteab in Dundalk yesterday.

A very promising third to What Style on her debut in soft ground at Leopardstown, Bracing Breeze justified 2/1 favouritism in the two-year-old fillies maiden, getting the better of market-rival Bronte after a fascinating all-the-way duel.

Prince Khalid Abdullah’s daughter of Dansili prevailed by a length and three-quarters, the leading duo stretching six-and-a-half-lengths clear of the third, debutante Sariyfa. Smullen commented: “She improved off her first run in Leopardstown and is a nice filly for the future. She was always travelling nicely and quickened up all the way to the line.”