Duca follows-up as Smullen doubles-up

Duca Valentinois followed-up on his win over the course and distance last month as he took the www.trm-ireland.com Handicap to provide Pat Smullen with a quick 43/1 double (took the previous contest aboard Postulation .

Upped just four pounds for his victory in May the son of Holy Roman Emperor was sent off the 9/2 second favourite in the colours of the Oaktree Racing Syndicate.

Settled in mid-division he was fifth entering the straight. He took closer order from two furlongs out and was ridden to lead inside the final furlong, keeping on well under pressure to hold off the late challenge of Pullman Brown by a short head.

The runner-up was returned at 16/1 under Colm O'Donoghue for David Marnane while Xebec (7/1), who led from two furlongs out, was a neck back in third under Declan McDonogh for John Oxx. King Of Aragon was sent off the 7/2 favourite but he could only manage a disappointing ninth under Joseph O'Brien for his father Aidan.

Winning trainer Johnny Murtagh said afterwards: "He's progressing all the time. It was a bit more tactical than the last day. Pat said he could go back a furlong rather than go on another one. He put his head down and was trying really hard.

"We are thinking of going for a Premier Handicap now, and the syndicate would like a day out at Galway so we might head for the big handicap there (Topaz Mile). Lightly-raced three-year-olds have a good record in the race."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee