Blinkers help Smart Striking get over bout of seconditis

TITLE-CHASING Fran Berry and Pat Smullen dominated last night’s action at Leopardstown, Berry taking the honours with a fine treble on Smart Striking, Napa Starr and Simkane while former champion Smullen had to settle for a brace, on Be My Storm and Aladdin’s Cave.

Blinkered for the first time, Smart Striking, an American bred filly owned by Seamus Dunne, stretched clear inside the final furlong to record a facile, three lengths win over morning gamble and 5/4 favourite Paraphernalia in the opening Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden.

Trainer John Oxx commented: “She’s had seconditis for a while, but the blinkers helped her. She hasn’t been finishing out her races but that wasn’t a problem today. She likes fast ground and is effective at seven furlongs or a mile.”