Kilmessan trainer on the mark at dundalk

Kilmessan trainer Matthew Smith sprung a 20/1 shock at Dundalk last night when he sent Gretzky out to win a handicap at the Louth track in fine style with a short-head-victory for jockey Conor King.

It has been a long journey for the seven-year-old from a racecourse debut at Saint-Clound for trainer Andre Fabre four years ago to Kilmessan, but last night Gretzky was winning at Dundalk for the second time this year and the fifth in total.

There was a real Meath flavour to the first three home with the Johnny Murtagh-trained Hardstone in second place and, amazingly, Matthew Smith's other runner, Shalaman in third place.

Smith only has Shalaman since August and has already won a race (first run) and finished in the first three on two of the other three outings including last night.