Paddy Smullen emulates legendary father Pat with first winner at Dundalk

Grappa Nonino sprang a 20-1 surprise in the Every Cheltenham Festival Race Live On Racing TV Amateur Handicap

PADDY'S DAY: Paddy Smullen savours the moment after steering Grappa Nonino to victory at Dundalk. Picture: Healy Racing  

On a night when David Egan delivered a double for Amo Racing and Adrian Murray, it was teenager Paddy Smullen, son of the late and legendary Pat, who earned the headlines in Dundalk, riding his first winner, on board Grappa Nonino, in the Every Cheltenham Festival Race Live On Racing TV Amateur Handicap.

Settled in mid division, the 20-1 shot, trained by Pat Smullen’s former boss Dermot Weld, stayed on dourly in the closing stages to overhaul Palamon and score by a length and a half.

It was a particularly poignant success for the teenager as his late and legendary father rode his first winner (Vicosa) at Dundalk in 1993 and his last, Togoville, also at Dundalk, in March 2018. And Paddy rode here with his dad’s saddle.

The 17-year-old, who was having only his second ride under rules, admitted: “I didn’t know it was happening until it happened, but It’s brilliant. Mr Weld has been very good to me and I’m happy to repay him. Everything was right for me and the horse tonight. It doesn’t feel real. It’s amazing, a special win, with great sentimental value.” 

Trainer Adrian Murray introduced an exciting colt Titanium Emperor to land the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Patton Race, in which Ryan Moore’s mount, 1-4 shot Mount Kilimanjaro, Aidan O’Brien’s first runner in Ireland in 2025, flopped, fading to finish a well-beaten third.

Titanium Emperor, a well-bred Night Of Thunder colt, who cost €220,000, scored impressively by three lengths, prompting his trainer to comment:  “We were happy to come and take on the favourite. We put him in at the deep end and he didn’t let us down.

“He’s a beautiful horse, with a beautiful temperament, and a lovely mover. The Tetrarch at the Curragh (on May 5) could be next for him. I’d say 10 furlongs suits him and he would stay a mile and a half.” 

The Amo/Murray/Egan double had been sparked when 2023 Norfolk winner Valiant Force, tackling a mile for the first time, outclassed his rivals in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Race.

“It was a fact-finding mission tonight,” explained Murray.  “I was very impressed — he put it to bed early. This gives us plenty of options over the summer.”

David Marnane’s in-form mare Amemri, with regular partner Luke McAteer on board, completed a hat-trick and recorded her fifth success over course and distance when landing the Dundalk Winter Series Leading Trainer & Jockey Championship Handicap, mastering Pink Oxalis by a half-length.