Smullen keeps hopes alive in Dundalk

Pat Smullen grabbed a valuable winner at Dundalk to ensure a thrilling finish to his jockeys' title battle with Johnny Murtagh.

Murtagh opened the evening with a lead of seven over current champion Smullen and has just three more all-weather meetings to negotiate.

However, Smullen has not given up the fight and he was seen to good effect as he steered home Night Spark (5-1) in the closing Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap.

Smullen's mount Russian Empress also has to go down as an unlucky loser of the Group Discounts At Dundalk Stadium Race.

The mare reared slightly coming out of the stalls and was last early on in the six-furlong event before arriving late with her challenge.

Tornadodancer asserted a furlong out under Ben Curtis and the Tom McCourt-trained 11-2 shot had just enough in the locker to hold on by a neck.

Murtagh looked to have a winner in the bag when favourite Shirley Blake smoothly took the lead with a furlong left in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

But Wayne Lordan, who was never far away on Hen Night (7-2), drove the David Wachman-trained youngster past in the final 100 yards to score by a length and a half.

Champion apprentice-elect Gary Carroll put another one on the scoreboard when Willyconker led throughout in the the Dining Specials At Dundalk Stadium Nursery.

Austin Leahy's juvenile (11-2), a course and distance winner a fortnight ago, was chased all the way by Smoky Cloud and stuck on gamely to prevail by a short head.

Settigiano stayed on well under pressure to bag the bookings@dundalkstadium.com Race in the hands of Seamus Heffernan.

The 7-1 chance kicked on over a furlong out and despite Six Of Hearts' best efforts, Settigiano dug deep to hold on by a length.