Smullen likely to land double

In the week of the big three-day Curragh meeting, there is much less exalted fare on offer at Tramore this evening, but one of…

In the week of the big three-day Curragh meeting, there is much less exalted fare on offer at Tramore this evening, but one of the Derby jockeys, Pat Smullen, can make it count in the two flat races.

Smullen will be on the No 1 Dermot Weld hope in the Derby, and the partnership look to have found an ideal winning opportunity tonight for River Tempest in the nine-furlong maiden.

For a colt who got upset in the stalls before running fourth to Trimalana at Roscommon, the lack of starting stalls today is opportune, and the evidence of River Tempest's second to Irish Summit at Cork last June suggest the Weld horse will be hard to beat.

Smullen takes the ride on Padamul for Pat Martin in the 14-furlong handicap and this one will be no 14 to 1 shot, as he was when third to Aljay at Wexford last time.

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The two-mile handicap chase is an intriguing race, with the inform Sparkey Smith on a three-timer and Arthur Moore running the Roscommon winner, Tacolino.

Preference is for Little-K, however, with the trip likely to suit and his being 12lb better off with Sparkey Smith on their running at Clonmel.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column