Danny Mullins enjoyed his first success on the beach at Laytown as Smoky Cloud ran out a comprehensive winner of the opening Balmarino Handicap for Ken Condon.
It was also an initial victory at the County Meath venue for Condon and the victorious four-year-old soon led, he was ridden clear from two furlongs out and he kept on well in the final furlong to beat Dash Back (staying on well at the business end) by two lengths.
Condon, enjoying a tremendous campaign, this being his 19th winner of 2011, said: "Danny was very strong on him and he needed that.
"He won off 62 (in a nursery at Leopardstown in October 2009 when with Willie McCreery) and he was running off 67 today and he'd been showing glimpses of coming back to form.
"We only had our first runners here last year and fourth was as close as we came.
"I'm delighted to get the win as it is a unique and historic days racing. The horse took to the place well."
Also trained by Condon and owned by the Nova Syndicate, Marvada performed with much credit today to finish fourth behind Alanza in the Group 3 at Doncaster.
