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.”

The double was completed when Mouteab, runner-up in his three previous starts, captured the colts’ maiden in workmanlike style, travelling well before taking command and responding to Smullen’s urgings to hold Magician and Joseph O’Brien by a half-length.

The winning rider said: “He deserved that because he has bumped into a few smart maidens. He’s a straight-forward colt and it’s nice to get a win into him. His experience definitely helped and he kept finding for me.”

Seven-race maiden Precious Stone, a full-sister to the exciting Battle Of Marengo, belatedly earned a valuable winning bracket when justifying 15/8 favouritism in the Christmas Party Packages At Dundalk Stadium Fillies Maiden. The David Wachman-trained Galileo filly was ridden to an emphatic win by Wayne Lordan.

Probably favoured by the faster surface, the Jim Bolger-trained Heavy Weight (12/1) got off the mark when landing the first division of the Horse & Greyhound Racing Friday 28th September Handicap under Kevin Manning, holding the late challenge of Lord Kenmare by three-quarters of a length.

Chris Hayes brought his seasonal tally to 51 when winning the second division of this one-mile, 50-75 handicap on Creek Falcon, whose trainer Paul Deegan admitted: “I’m not sure what happened the last day in Naas. But he appeared to love the surface today and might have another day or two before heading for the Sales.”

Billy Lee, rider of runner-up Xsquared, picked up a two-day careless riding ban following an incident involving Joseph O’Brien’s mount Jeangeorges.

Trainer Darren Bunyan declared: “He did it the hard way, from an outside draw,” after Grey Danube registered his third win on the track, and his first over the minimum trip, in the opening Dundalk Stadium Lights Up Friday 28th September Handicap.

The grey Verglas gelding pipped Almadaa by a short-head after a good battle. But winning rider, apprentice Leigh Roche, was subsequently handed a two-day ban for careless riding.

Shane ‘Dusty’ Foley escaped sanction from the Stewards following his win on Via Ballycroy in the six-furlong Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Maiden, the interference caused to fourth-placed Storm Lightning being deemed to be accidental.

Via Ballycrow is trained by Michael Halford, who said, “I was getting frustrated with her and tried the cheekpieces. I was worried about the draw and she did well to win.”