Champion elect Barry Geraghty and elder brother Norman were both among the winners at Dundalk yesterday evening.
Barry moved onto the 80 winner mark for the campaign when partnering Drewstown Lady to land a gamble in the Clogherhead Handicap Hurdle. There was drama at the final hurdle, where the John Bowles-trained mare tried to duck out but was corrected just in time to beat Ephony Lady by two lengths.
Norman, an amateur rider and farrier by trade, recorded his second win on the track when Over The Country took the Tallanstown Hunters Chase. Guadalko was alongside when falling at the last, leaving Liam McAteer's charge to score by seven lengths.
'He likes that fast ground, and will run next at Downpatrick (May 20th) before going to the sales at Doncaster,' said McAteer.
Pat Smullen recorded his 15th winner of the season, to leave him just one behind championship leader Michael Kinane. Smullen sent the well-backed 6 to 4 favourite Golden Spice to the front over a furlong out in the Mountain Handicap to beat Zuleika by two lengths. There was a stewards' inquiry into a possible interference around the furlong pole but the placings remained unaltered.
Gold Round limbered up for a possible crack at the Oaks at Epsom next month by taking the Group Three Prix Cleopatre in good style at Saint-Cloud yesterday.
Third to Lady Of Chad on her seasonal debut, Criquette Head'sfilly had little difficulty improving on that form.
