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 20) before going to the sales at Doncaster,' said McAteer.
On the Flat section of the card, Pat Smullen recorded his fifteenth winner of the season to leave him just one behind championship leader Mick Kinane. Smullen sent the well-backed 6/4 favourite Golden Spice to the front over a furlong out in the Mountain Handicap to beat Zuleika by two lengths. There was a stewards enquiry into a possible interference around the furlong pole but the placings remained unaltered.
