Along Came Smullen for Leopardstown win!

Pat Smullen doesn't appear one for half-days and the multiple Champion Jockey made the dash back from an aborted mission at Royal Ascot today to substitute on four of his employer Dermot Weld's runners at Leopardstown this evening, winning the featured Listed Glencairn Stakes with Along Came Casey

Smullen's day began in England where he had been expecting to ride Rite Of Passage in the Ascot Gold Cup. However drying ground resulted in the fragile gelding being withdrawn leaving Smullen facing a quick return trip to Dublin. He eventually filled in for Weld's apprentice jockey Leigh Roche in the first four races, winning on his fourth ride with Along Came Casey which proved an impressive four and a quarter lengths winner of the feature event.

Along Came Casey's trainer Dermot Weld was absent for the win but his son Kris Weld later stated “that was very pleasing. She's a good filly and her form behind Declaration of War spoke for itself. It was a very good performance for her first run of the year and while there's nothing definite, she may step up to ten furlongs and come back here for the Meld Stakes.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee.