Smitty Bacall brings up an across the card double for Flavin Trainer John Flavin brought up an across the card double as the veteran Smitty Bacall landed the concluding Fibrus Total Home Wi-Fi Handicap Chase at Down Royal. Successful at his local Tramore track 15 minutes earlier with Clarens, Flavin was back in the number one spot with his very next runner. This one would have been particularly special to connections, as the evergreen 14-year-old Smitty Bacall was registering a sixth career win and a first over fences. Travelling strongly throughout under Darragh O'Keeffe, the 15/2 chance led after two out, quickly asserting before holding the late challenge of College Causeway by three-and-a-half lengths. John Flavin said: "Darragh won on him in Roscommon last year and he's just a very good jockey especially on horses like him that need just holding together. "Delighted he jumped well and travelled well. That's his first win over fences at 14, so it is great that he got it. "My horses hadn't been running great during the winter, but Clarens just won in Tramore and I had a horse run earlier just fell at the third last (Party Pack in Down Royal) when he was going well, so I knew they were all running well. I was more confident then. "He's a good-ground horse so hopefully he's okay in the morning. Darragh said he gave him a lovely feel for a 14-year-old. It is a big jumping test around here, he warmed into it and Darragh said he was brilliant everywhere." Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
