Curl Cat takes opener at Dundalk

Pat Smullen is now only five winners behind Johnny Murtagh for the Champion Jockeys' Title after he landed the opening Fairways Race, Stay & Golf Package Maiden at Dundalk aboard 5/2 shot Curl Cat

Smullen sent the son of Tale Of The Cat to the front over a furlong and a half out and the pair kept on well to hold off the fast finishing Westtower Boy by a head.

Winning trainer Willie McCreery said afterwards: “He deserved that , he’s a lovely horse and we were hoping he would have done it earlier in the year .”

“He’ll be a grand horse for next year and he absolutely loves that ground.”