Keane has Championship line in sight

Colin Keane lit up the concluding race at a low-key Fairyhouse meeting today as the rider appeared to put the seal on a first Jockeys’ Championship with a win on Les Areaux in the concluding Christmas Parties December 16th Handicap (div 2).

Keane sent Les Areaux clear in the home straight and in the end the pair beat Nannys Well by four and a half lengths, to move the rider to 91 winners for the season, five clear of nearest pursuer Pat Smullen.

There are currently six flat meetings left this season, which concludes at Naas on November 4, and with Smullen suspended for Leopardstown on Saturday, it means that nine-times Champion Smullen has approximately just 28 races (divided races excepting) left for him to catch Keane, who is free to ride in all of the concluding fixtures.

At the beginning of the day Paddy Power went 1/3 about Keane gaining a first title, against Smullen at 9/4 but with Smullen failed to win on any of his eight rides, four of which were favourites, the bookmakers have since closed betting on the market.

Les Areaux’s trainer Johnny Murtagh wasn’t present but afterwards Keane briefly mentioned “stepping up in trip probably brought about a bit of improvement in him, and he handles that ground well.”

Quotes from Alan Magee