RACING: Curragh-based jockey Pat Smullen recorded a double at Killarney yesterday.
His first was on board 9 to 10 favourite Great Compton who landed the 1m3f Maiden for trainer Dermot Weld. The son of Compton Place was given a strong drive to defeat Red Cedar by four lengths.
Smullen completed his double in the Murphy Mitsubishi Motors Handicap on Top Star. The 10 to 1 shot eventually won by seven lengths and winning trainer Liam McAteer later praised Smullen for the success.
"Pat rode him in Roscommon and suggested that he should be ridden up with the pace more," he said.
Edward O'Grady's Kickham, who has a Galway Hurdle entry, won the opening Niall Brosnan & Co Solicitors Novice Hurdle but punters who backed the seven- year-old at odds of 2 to 7 were made to sweat as the eventual runner-up Soroka made the winner work all the way.
Kickham was driven home by jockey Norman Williamson to win by a length and a half.
Twenty-year-old John Sullivan rode his first winner on Pisces in the 2m6f Handicap Hurdle. The 10 to 1 winner eventually defeated Rosses Folly by eight lengths ensuring that the Kildare jockey became the third generation of his family to ride a winner.
Eleven-year-old Ballygowan Beauty caused a big surprise when winning at 20 to 1 in Tralee last month and the veteran repeated the dose for punters in the 2m1f Handicap.
Tommy Walker's charge was ridden by promising 16-year-old Billy Lee, with the horse recording his first flat win here , after nine national hunt successes.
Paul Roche's top weight Doc Morrissey won the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle under Barry Geraghty and is scheduled to reappear in Kilbeggan this evening.
