Defending champion Pat Smullen is still three ahead of both Michael Kinane and Johnny Murtagh in their battle for the jockeys' championship after he rode home first aboard 7-1 chance Glens Music in the finale at Navan today. Kinane had moved on to the 72-winner mark, the same as Murtagh, for the campaign when completing a treble earlier in the afternoon for Aidan O'Brien but both he and Murtagh had to take a back-seat in the Kilnaleck Maiden.
Kinane took the mount on the well-backed favourite Discerning Air while Murtagh was aboard Limestone Lad in his first race back in action. Limestone Lad was in front turning for home but Glens Music went clear on the climb to the post.
While the spoils went to defending champion Smullen, now on the 75-winner mark, Limestone Lad will probably derive most benefit fitness-wise from the two-mile outing on the flat on soft ground. The plan now is for Limestone Lad to return to Navan on Saturday fortnight for the Lismullin Hurdle according to Michael Bowe who prepares the horse for his father James.
Meanwhile, Kinane initiated his treble for O'Brien on Tesio in the opening sprint and also celebrated wins aboard the odds-on Kournakova in the juvenile maiden and on 7-1 chance Life Match in the Clonmellon Maiden.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
