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Review down royal 10th Sep

Fri 10th Sep 2010, 19:40

Pat Smullen kept the winners ticking along in his quest for the jockeys' title as Fictional Account led for most of the way to take the main event on the Down Royal card, Her Majesty's Plate.

The Vincent Ward-trained five-year-old's last victory was in a Dundalk race over further than two miles, so stamina was never going to be an issue in this near 13-furlong contest and the former champion made full use of that fact.

The opposition was in trouble even before the turn into the straight and Fictional Account (5-1) stayed on stoutly to hold Knight Eagle by a length and three-quarters.

Smullen had already won on Ancient Sands (7-2), who led home a Joanna Morgan one-two in the Lunns The Jewellers Diamond Nursery Handicap.< Equus Ferus had every chance entering the final furlong, but his stable companion found a nice gap and burst through to lead in the closing stages before winning by three-quarters of a length.

There was plenty of money for the Willie McCreery-trained Tahitian Pearl in the Cruise Handicap and the grey got the job done, but not before giving supporters a scare.

The filly, backed down to 4-1 favourite, had plenty to do coming down the straight but edged closer with each stride under Keagan Latham and nailed Metropolis in the shadow of the post for a head victory.

John Oxx's Natalisa flopped when favourite at Naas but she put that well behind her with a commanding victory in the House Of Fraser EBF Maiden.

Fran Berry had the 5-2 market leader sharply away and she led the whole way, showing no signs of stopping as she held Extra Steps by a length and three-quarters.

Berry and Oxx doubled up when Emrani (7-2 joint-favourite) just held another well-backed McCreery runner, Alpine Glade in the Victoria Square Irresistible Handicap.< Knock Stars looked home entering the final furlong in the TM Lewin It's The Business Claiming Race, but she emptied quickly and the Jim Bolger-trained Webcast (8-1) grabbed her to win by three-quarters of a length under Martin Harley.