Smooth Tom and Adam Ryan © Photo Healy Racing
Adam Ryan always had the Andrew Slattery trained Smooth Tom well placed before finding plenty for pressure close home to win the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Amateur Riders Derby (Q.R.) Race at the Curragh.
A three-time Flat winner, who also boasts two victories over hurdles, the five-year-old had to be at his best here to just get the better of Ascending in a driving finish.
Prominent throughout, Ryan moved second entering the straight to range up alongside the long time leader, Ascending.
That latter rival looked in trouble at that point but to his credit and that of rider Andrew Jones, the gelding kept finding all the way up the straight, refusing to go down until eventually headed over 100 yards out.
“He's a versatile horse and I think he'll stay two miles,” said Andrew Slattery.
“I forgot to enter him for the Irish Cesarewitch this year and I'd say it will suit him.
“We might run him in the Grade 3 hurdle at Down Royal on Friday week if he's alright and give him a little break then.
“The handicapper can't touch him there at the weights as the second is rated 86.
“There is also the Listed Finale Stakes back here on the last day but I'll probably run him over hurdles, he likes small fields.
“He ran well the last day, it was kind of a non event with Daddy Long Legs going out in front and he didn't follow him. He rode for second and got second.
“He was second in the Lincoln as well this year so he's very versatile.
“Keith Donoghue rode him in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last year and thought he'd be an ideal horse for a Galway Hurdle but we had to give him a break at that stage.
“Adam is a very good rider. A few things went wrong for him this year and he's gone through a lean spell so it's great for him to get a winner. He's well able to ride.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
