Smullen lands treble as Riyazan takes feature

Pat Smullen rattled off a quick treble on the card at Dundalk tonight when Riyazan landed the featured Star Appeal Stakes.

Just one winner now separates the nine-time champion from leader Colin Keane in the race for the jockeys title.

Michael Halford 's charge went to post a 11/4 shot for the Listed contest over seven-furlongs having been as short as 15/8 this morning. The money came for Lethal Steps (5/1 this morning into 9/4 favourite).

Smullen tracked the leaders on the Aga Khan colt before producing him to challenge a furlong and a half from home.

The betting suggested it would be a competitive affair and so it proved with three in a line over a furlong out. Lake Volta had a narrow lead at the furlong pole with Battle Of Jericho and Riyazan challenging either side.

Smullen got a good tune from Riyazan to edge ahead in the closing stages and prevail by half a length. Battle Of Jericho edged the runner-up spot by a short head from Lake Volta with just another half length back to Lethal Steps.

“He was lot more at home on that surface than he has been on the slow ground the last twice he ran,” said Halford.

“He has plenty of pace so I wasn’t worried about dropping him to seven. Pat gave him a beautiful ride and it all went to plan.

“He dug deep for him when he needed him, and that’s four runs now for the year so we will leave it at that with him.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)