Triple Pay Day for Smullen on Kitten

Pat Smullen completed a treble on the evening, and the second for his governor Dermot Weld, when Pay Day Kitten got up in the shadow of the post to take the three-year-olds’ 1m4f handicap at Tipperary. Kingdom (9/4) bided to make virtually all under Joseph O’Brien and kept on well under pressure when challenged in the straight.

However Smullen saved his decisive effort until well inside the final furlong, and the 2/1 favourite got up in the final strides to score by a head. The pair pulled five lengths clear of Morning With Ivan in third.

Just five took part as Flameseeker refused to enter the stalls causing a 5 cent in the euro deduction to all winning bets.

Smullen said, “I wanted to be the last to challenge. She’s still green and hopefully she’ll progress from this.”

The Co. Offaly native was successful earlier in the evening on the Weld-trained Stuccodor (evens favourite) and Clara Bel La (9/1), trained by John Kiely.

At this early stage of the season, Smullen is now on the 13 winner mark, just one behind reigning champion Joseph O’Brien who recorded a double on the card.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes