Article has leading chance of getting off mark

PAT SMULLEN can consolidate his position at the top of the jockeys’ championship by partnering Leading Article to success in the Rathronan Maiden at Clonmel this evening.

The three-year-old showed plenty of promise on his first two outings and went off a well-backed favourite to get off the mark at Gowran Park last time.

He looked all over a winner when hitting the front over two furlongs down, but was run out of it close home and beaten half a length by In The Folly.