Pat Smullen moved onto the 22 winner mark for the season when completing a 21 to 1 double with Awesome Strike and Palette at Clonmel yesterday.
The Dermot Weld-trained Awesome Strike gained a workmanlike victory in the Roscrea EBF Fillies Maiden. The former champion apprentice sent the Theatrical filly through a gap on the inner entering the straight, and she kept on under pressure to beat Sharavogue Cookie by a length and a half.
Smullen drew six clear of reigning champion Michael Kinane after Palette rallied in the closing stages to touch off stablemate Mykon Gold in the Sporting Press Tipperary Cup Handicap. "The Galway Plate is a likely target for Palette," said trainer Willie Mullins.
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