Captain Joy and Pat Smullen finish ahead of Geological © Photo Healy Racing
< Captain Joy s triumph in the Ladbrokes Fast-Track Qualifier Race was the highlight of a treble for Pat Smullen at Dundalk.
Tracey Collins' grey hadn't tasted competitive action since last summer but still went off the 4-5 market leader and tracked the front-running Geological
He loomed alongside apparently travelling much the better, but Geological wouldn't go down without a fight and Smullen had to resort to the whip to see him off by half a length.< Ancient Sands successfully reverted to the all-weather under Smullen in the Download The Ladbrokes App Handicap.
Down the field in the ultra-competitive Coral.ie Hurdle at Leopardstown last month and burdened with top weight here, John Kiely's 11-2 chance came with a sterling challenge in the final quarter-mile to fend off Whatever It Takes by a neck, stretching his unbeaten Dundalk record to three.
Smullen completed his treble on Hat Alnasar in the This Is The Ladbrokes Life Handicap.< Rocking The Blue proved far too good in the Crowne Plaza Dundalk Race & Stay Package Maiden.
Sent off the 5-4 favourite on the back of a course second three weeks ago, he tracked the leading trio into the straight before making his move and although appearing slightly green still in the closing stages, he passed the post six and a half lengths ahead of Carraigin Aonair < The Mouse Doctor was another to maintain his forward momentum and broke through in the Ladbrokes Maiden as the 4-5 favourite.< Crazy Tornado was allowed an uncontested lead in the Big Bad Bob Maiden, but was ultimately all out to fend off outsider Inner Knowing
Mick Halford's 5-4 favourite drifted a bit to his right when asked for maximum effort but had enough in reserve to flash past the post a neck to the good.< Long Journey Home (13-8 favourite) battled back to beat Corker Hill in the Ladbrokes Claiming Race, while Sister Slew (7-1) came out on top in the Bet Now With The Ladbrokes App Apprentice Handicap.
