McCreery and Smullen have No Fear

Pat Smullen warmed up for the start of the Irish turf flat season on Sunday when punching home No Fear in the opener on Dundalk's polytrack.

Willie McCreery 's gelding broke smartly and soon led. Smullen then dictated the pace before asking for more just beyond the one pole in this six-furlong handicap for three-year-olds.

The winner scored at 2/1 and was driven out to hold Octavia (uneasy 15/8 favourite from 13/8) by a length. Enter The Priory with Shane Foley putting up 1lb overweight, was a further half a length away in third. Lady Mandeville was prominent in second, but her effort petered out in the final furlong as she finished fourth.

Willie McCreery said: "He's a lovely looking horse - a solid horse. He loved the surface.

"There was no-one going on and Pat knew the fractions were slow early. He quickened off the bend and he's fit so he galloped all the way to the line.

"He's after winning two now and is the type of horse that would win plenty of races in England. He's a tough little nut."

As a juvenile No Fear landed a Bellewstown nursery over five furlongs last August.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson