Smooth Player provides O'Neill with landmark success

Lisa O'Neill partnered her first winner since January and her 100th overall, as she guided Smooth Player to victory in the Galway INH Flat Race.

From the family of Shutthefrontdoor and Strong Project, the son of Getaway was expected to deliver on debut, going off the 8/11 favourite in the colours of Caldwell Construction Ltd.

Settled in second, the Gordon Elliott trained victor improved to lead from six furlongs out but was joined and pushed along over two furlongs from home.

He was ridden and regained an outright lead entering the straight, keeping on well in the closing stages to prevail by a length-and-a-half.

Fellow debutant Cocoplum (22s to 16s) finished second under Noel McParlan for Colin McBratney, while Hermin D'oudairies (20s to 14s) was another two-and-a-half lengths back in third.

Elliott said in the aftermath: "He is only a baby and is a horse for next year. He is very big and raw and won't do much more this year, maybe run once over hurdles and then we will put him away.

"It's good for Lisa as it's her 100th winner between the track and point-to-point's. With Jamie (Codd) riding most of the horses, it is hard to give her as many opportunities as she used to have but she is a great girl and obviously a big part of the team."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes