Hall comes good to put O'Brien one ahead

Joseph O'Brien edged back one ahead of Pat Smullen in the Flat jockey's title race when Hall Of Mirrors finally came good in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery at Gowran Park.

The Duke Of Marmalade juvenile, placed on all four previous starts, needed to be stoked up by O'Brien to get into contention over a furlong out.

However the response was pleasing, and the 7/2 chance drew right away in the final furlong to beat Ballyorban (8/1) by three and three quarter lengths. Cest Notre Gris (7/2) was never far from the pace but could find no extra from over a furlong out to finish another two and a half lengths adrift in third.

Joseph O'Brien said, "He's been racing consistently well, and I rode him a bit differently today. I dropped him in a bit and he's picked up well."

O'Brien is now on the 76 winner mark for the season, with Smullen on 75.