"Job done" for Heartful

Pat Smullen and his many fans may have been set for a winner in the previous race before the champion jockey and Pique Sous (withdrawn) parted ways at the start. There wasn't a long wait for compensation though, when Smullen teamed up with his boss, Dermot Weld, to land the Sevens Cabs & Coach Hire Fillies Maiden at Dundalk.

Moyglare Stud Farm's Heartful convincingly shed her maiden tag at the eighth attempt when defeating fellow 11/4 joint favourite Teagan Angel by three and three parts of a length.

"I didn't think it would take this length of time to win her maiden. She is obviously a very well-bred filly and to get a winning bracket with her is really job done," said Smullen.

"She had a super first run last year, and the filly (subsequent Oaks heroine Seventh Heaven) that beat her kept progressing and we didn't. She was entitled to win a maiden.

"The break has done her no harm and I think being fresh is a help to her. She handles this surface, and on today's evidence she will probably be able to go a bit further."

(AM & EM)