Dartan puts cap on lucrative day for Smith

Dartan (12/1) made it an across-the-card double for Matthew Smith when delivering in the concluding two-mile handicap at the Curragh.

Declan McDonogh sent him on over a quarter of a mile out and the six-year-old gelding showed good fortitude to make the best way home. Extensio (8/1) came fast and late down the outside, but ran out of road and went down by half a length. Almuhit (11/1) and Marvelosa (17/2) completed the placings in third and fourth respectively.

Smith said: “I'm delighted, it's been a great day. I was a bit disappointed with him in Fairyhouse the last day but, in hindsight, they didn't go much of a gallop and it turned into a sprint.

“He had some good form last year, but had a bit of a setback so we let him off for the rest of the summer.

“I had faith in him and knew he was good enough to win. I told Declan to make plenty of use of him and he gave him a great ride. He stays well and he is a nice horse.”

His La Hacienda performed a successful raid in the JenningsBet Northumberland Vase Handicap at Newcastle.

The six-year-old Free Eagle mare returned from a long absence to finish third in the Listed His Majesty's Plate at Down Royal Friday week ago.

She went off 11/1 for this extended two-mile race worth £75,000 and picked up the lead over two furlongs out for Harry Davies. She kept on best to fend off Mostly Sunny by half a length.

“It was brilliant, I'm delighted with it. On her run in the Listed race at Down Royal I was expecting her to run a big race," said Smith.

“The question mark was probably her form on the all-weather, she wasn't really proven on the all-weather. It was a brilliant result.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson