Murtagh virtually assured of title

A SINGLE winner for reigning champion Pat Smullen at Dundalk last night, leaves Johnny Murtagh with a 93-88 lead in the title-race entering the final meeting of the 2009 season at Dundalk tonight, when champion elect Murtagh must sit out the action due to a one-day suspension.

Smullen triumphed on Curl Cat in the opening Fairways Race Stay & Golf Maiden but enjoyed no further success, leaving him with a virtually impossible task tonight.

After seeing the tough Tale Of The Cat colt hold the late surge of Westtower Boy by a head, trainer Willie McCreery commented: “We were hoping and expecting him to win earlier. But he has been consistent and deserved that. He should keep improving and will be a grand horse next year. Pat was very strong on him, just as he was the last day here.”