THE battle between Colin Keane and Pat Smullen for the jockeys title continued at Dundalk on Tuesday with the former getting the better of the argument to stretch his lead to five.

Keane was quick off the mark when the well-backed The Kid Bobby B battle gamely to land the opening Bar One Racing Maiden.

The Ger Lyons-trained colt was supported from 12/1 in the morning and went to post as the 2/1 favourite in the mile contest.

The son of Nathaniel was produced to challenge a furlong out but Platinum Warrior, under Smullen, looked to be holding him until a late lunge sealed a head victory for the Gaelic Thoroughbred-owned colt.

“He showed great resolution there and we like him. He wanted every bit of that mile. He was very professional and quick out of the stalls,” said Shane Lyons.

“He went down half a length inside the last furlong so to come back at him again shows great guts. He’ll be a trip horse next year. We’ll put him away now and let him grow up a bit, that was a bonus.

“He’s still a little bit of a baby and we’ll see how he progresses over the winter, hopefully he will progress well. We were always going to put him away and now that he’s done that we’ll take stock.”

Smullen got one back when the Dermot Weld-trained Muniza ran out a convincing winner of the 10-furlong fillies’ maiden.

The 9/2 shot led a furlong out and went on to record a length and a half success over the Keane-ridden Lady Nathaniel.

“She did it well. We were hopeful of her being able to do that someday,” said Smullen of the Aga Khan’s filly.

“I think the surface and trip were right for her today and she probably didn’t stay the last day in Galway.

“We’ve always thought she was a smart maiden and she did it well there. She jumped and travelled beautifully through the race and it’s no surprise she’s gone and won like that. I think the surface is a big help to her.

“It was good to get a bracket with her and hopefully she can build on that and win a handicap before the end of the year, maybe back here again because she really appreciated the surface.”

Keane re-established his lead when Commander Won justified strong support in the first division of the mile-and-a-half handicap.

The 5/2 shot (5/1 in morning) travelled well to hit the front turning for home and kept on strongly in the closing stages to beat British Art, Smullen’s mount, by two lengths.

Dermot McLoughlin trains the five-year-old for Sean Gallagher and he said afterwards; “He said when he gave him a slap he curled up a bit but he said he has plenty of stamina and stays well, keeps galloping and that’s really what he does.

“He was here last year, and was unlucky a few times, and we’ll keep him going over the winter. We won’t run him too often, as he runs well fresh, and we’ll look for something in a few weeks time.

“Any day that man (Keane) rings looking for the ride sure you have to keep him happy, he’s riding well.”

Oisin Orr moved level with Ana O’Brien in the race for the apprentice title when guiding Coreczka to victory in the first division of the seven-furlong handicap.

Clare Cannon’s stable-star gained her seventh career win when hitting the front a furlong out and beating Silk Cravat by three-parts of a length.

“She’s brilliant for me, for a small yard, and I don’t think I’ll ever get another one like her,” said Cannon.

“She’s been on the go a bit over the summer so she’ll maybe have a gap somewhere along the line rather than going all winter. We’ll see how she is when we get her home.

“I’ll need to search harder to find another one before she goes.”

The first division saw veteran Seanie bounce back to winning ways under Declan McDonogh.

David Marnane’s gelding tracked the leader before hitting the front two furlongs from home. He asserted before the furlong marker and kept on strongly for a one and three-quarter-length win.

“I planned on maybe making it but we were going a good gallop and I was happy to take a lead,” said McDonogh, who was carrying Damian Lavelle’s colours.

“He travelled around sweet and didn’t feel like an eight-year-old anyway. He felt like a horse that was enjoying life and he finished out well.

“These horses deserve to be given a chance (on ratings) when they get to that age and they can’t keep killing them with weight.

“He showed plenty of enthusiasm still and quickened well when I let him down.”

The Michael Halford-trained Invincible Ryker had to survive a stewards’ enquiry before gaining a deserved win in the seven-furlong maiden.

The 7/2 shot was produced to lead over a furlong from home, by Colm O’Donoghue, and drifted left inside the final furlong, coming close with runner-up Curly Girl briefly.

Eric Koh’s Invincible Spirit colt was going away at the death, however, to record a one and three-quarter-length success.

“He’s a lovely big horse and he’s after putting together a few good runs. He deserved his day today and seven on that surface suited him really well,” said Halford.

“Now that he’s won his maiden we’ll go handicapping with him and take it from there. He’s a big horse and has had a light season so there is plenty of racing left in him.”

The mile-and-a-half maiden produced a shock 50/1 winner as Panther Soul ran out a convincing length and a half winner.

Conor Hoban hit the front two furlongs out on Andy Oliver’s charge and he went on to beat 6/4 favourite World Stage. The Tyrone handler also saddled the third-placed horse, 25/1 shot Financial Conduct.

“They are two nice horses and both are in partnership with the same guy, J.P. Ledwidge,” said Oliver.

“They are just horses we had to take time with, horses that need a trip. We didn’t think that they were more than just ready so I’m actually delighted with that performance.

“There should be a lot of improvement. Conor was very impressed and said there is a heap of improvement, so time will tell. They pulled well clear and I’m very pleased.

“We’ll have to see what the handicapper does but after beating an 85-rated horse he might even turn up in the Carlingford Stakes (October 13th) although that is a mile and two. I don’t know and time will tell us.

“It’s a pleasant surprise as I didn’t think either of the two of them were ready enough.”

The most impressive winner of the night came in the finale as 8/1 shot French Mix streaked away from her rivals to take the second division of the mile and a half handicap under Wayne Lordan.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained filly led two furlongs from home and kicked clear in the closing stages for an easy seven and a half-length success.

“It was her first time on the surface and I just jumped out and rode a straightforward race. She quickened up really well, went to the line well, and got the mile and a half well,” said Lordan.

“I think she enjoyed the track and picked up well on it. Her last run was over a mile and three and up another furlong, on this track, was a plus.”

ACTING STEWARDS

N.B. Wachman, L. McFerran, J.T. Hunt, F.G. Fitzsimons, H. Hynes.

HORSE TO FOLLOw

FINANCIAL CONDUCT (A Oliver): Shaped nicely when third in the mile-and-a-half maiden and could well take a similar prize.