Northerner Lee Smyth saddled his first winner since February of last year when his Richelieu under Chris Hayes, landed the opening [email protected] Handicap at Dundalk this evening.

Afterwards Smyth said “I’ve been training for three years, had nine winners in my first year but it has been a long time since my last winner – it’s my first winner at Dundalk.

“The key Richelieu is to produce him late and Chris gave him a super ride. He understood him when he rode him last time and you have to hit the front late on him and he did that tonight.

“We’ll keep him sweet for a month and go again here – I have 20 yearlings in at present.”