Smullen stars on Maremmadiavola

Pat Smullen showed just why he’s setting a strong pace at the head of the jockey’s championship when giving outsider Maremmadiavola an enterprising ride from an unfavourable draw to take the Bar One Racing Mourne Handicap at Dundalk.

The 25/1 chance was drawn very wide in stall 13 but Smullen got her away quickly and was able to get across to the rail on the bend approaching the straight.

A number of challengers lined up to take her on in the final two furlongs of this €21,000 event but the Eddie Lynam-trained filly stayed on well to beat Shipyard by half a length. In Salutem didn’t enjoy the clearest of passages and came home best another half a length away in third.

Lynam said, “She had a 92 rating in Italy and the Irish handicapper gave her 98 and she struggled. She has come down a bit.

“Pat gave her a great ride and she won from a bad draw. This race used to worth a lot more, but we'll take it."

(AM & MG)