Pat Smullen turns up heat on Colin Keane in race for jockey’s title

In a fascinating race for the jockey’s title, reigning champ Pat Smullen has hit a rich vein of form and, following a 1,055-1 four-timer at Roscommon yesterday, is all but breathing down the neck of championship leader Colin Keane.

The four-timer brought his tally for the season to 59, just three behind Keane, with Donnacha O’Brien a further 13 behind the leader.

Having shown promise on debut in the Curragh maiden won by Dawn Delivers, the Tracey Collins-trained Sollertia took a nice step forward when getting Smullen off the mark for the day, in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Race.