Katiymann and Pat Smullen© Photo Healy Racing
Pat Smullen has it back to six on leader Colin Keane as Katiymann won the 6.30 at Dundalk under the multiple champion. Michael Halford's charge justified favouritism in the Book Your Christmas Party At Dundalk Handicap. Grey Danube put the pace to this seven furlong event and for a time looked like he might hold on.
Then it was Fuwairt that came through looking a possibility inside the last.
However Katiymann finished best down the outer to score by a neck from Fuwairt.
There was then three parts of a length and a nose to Cenotaph and Grey Danube in third and fourth.
"He had a nice run here last week. He loves running at a strong pace and it worked out tonight as they went good and hard," said Halford.
"He dropped the lot, settled well and came home strong. He's very consistent. Pat said when he rode him last week that it just took him a while to trust the surface and he thought he'd be better on it tonight.
"He loves a fast pace. He relaxes off it and it's not an un-genuine thing. He likes being off the bridle and he has a great turn of foot.
"We had a sprinter years ago that was the same, Snaefell. If Snaefell took a hold in a race he wouldn't beat me, but if he was off the bridle being pushed along he'd fly home. That's just his style.
"He'll come back here next month as there is a nice mile handicap for him."
C. O'Donoghue, rider of St Brelades Bay trained by Mrs John Harrington, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount didn't get a run .
(GC & EM)
