Timely boost for Smullen

PAT SMULLEN, who will ride Grey Swallow in the King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Newbury today, enjoyed a timely boost at Fairyhouse last night when completing a double for his boss Dermot Weld on Gripping and Wildnerness Bay.

Weld, who captured the first nursery of the season with Hidden Charm at the Curragh on Sunday, followed up when Smullen partnered top weight Gripping to a convincing victory in the Commons Nursery.

Smullen tracked the leader Seven Gold Rings before seizing the initiative and the daughter of Green Desert drew clear to score convincingly. Gripping is likely to be aimed at another nursery in the coming weeks.