Irish title still up for grabs as Keane and Smullen go gung-ho for winners

The best surprises are the ones we least expect so perhaps that is why the battle between Colin Keane and Pat Smullen for the jockeys' championship has been so enthralling over the last couple of weeks.

Smullen was 1-5 with Paddy Power at the start of the season to win his tenth title, while Keane was being quoted at 9-2. It was a done deal. Nothing to see here. Normal service was in store.

Yet here we are with just 13 meetings to go and Keane still holds a slender advantage over the defending champion. His 82-winner haul is already five more than his total for the whole of 2016 and he has his sights firmly set on reaching a century of winners.

Smullen finds himself playing catch-up but a 193-1 four-timer at Dundalk last Friday kept his head above water and, despite being one behind, Paddy Power still make him 4-7 to defend his crown. Keane can be backed at 5-4.

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said on Tuesday: "This is a real ding-dong of a battle with both riders having gone as long as 4-1 and short as 2-5.

"But, while it should be tight, we just fancy Pat to prevail as one of the reasons we’re in this situation is that Dermot Weld’s string went out of form for a couple of weeks and we think he might have some slow-burning two-year-olds to come out.

"We also think that Pat might have the edge around Dundalk, which will be so important."

The battle moves on to Gowran Park on Wednesday, where Keane and Smullen both have rides in every race apart from the two divisions of the apprentice handicap.

Six rides apiece – what one would give for a treble. It is on days like these titles can be decided.

COLIN KEANE

It has been a whirlwind for me over the last few weeks. I would be fairly laid-back at the best of times and I think Ger [Lyons] is getting more nervous than me! He has been terrific to me from day one. He has got behind me and is doing his very best to get me over the line.

Ger still has a few nice two-year-old newcomers to run and there are plenty of juveniles who have had one run, and improved lots for it at home, who are due to have their second start over the next few weeks.

All those will help and I'll take any help I can get. Ger has had a terrific season and we've enjoyed every minute of it.

Colin Keane: has set his sights on riding 100 winnersCredit: Patrick McCann

It has been a game of cat and mouse over the last few weeks. I would ride a winner and be chuffed with myself. Then Pat comes out and rides a winner in the next race. I might ride a double and he goes one better and rides a treble. It has been some rollercoaster.

I hate finishing second, especially in tight finishes and, when you are going for the title, getting beaten in photos is even more frustrating.

There were a few races over the last ten days or so where I was just touched off and it can be hard to take. Take Cannonball at Limerick on Saturday; he fought all the way to the line and was just collared close home. I've had about four or five of them recently.

But the flip side of that is when you win the tight ones. Gobi Desert got up late to win narrowly at Navan on Sunday and that was really sweet.

Myself and Pat get on very well and I would have a lot of time for him. He's a great champion and I know it will take something very special to finish ahead of him at the end of the season.

I turned 23 only last month so I would like to think that I have a good few years ahead of me challenging for the jockeys' title, but it would be great to win it this year. Me and the whole team have put so much effort into it.

When things were going well halfway through the season, I set my target at 100 winners for the season. I have got to 82 and my target is still 100.

I would love to get the century up and, if I do, that would give me a great chance of winning the title.

PAT SMULLEN

It has been well documented that Dermot's [Weld] string have not been 100 per cent all season. The knock-on effect is that runners have not been as plentiful as other years, so all credit must go to my agent Kevin O'Ryan for keeping me in the hunt. I have no doubt that normal service will resume with Dermot next season.

I would still be quite satisfied with the way the season has panned out. I have had a lot of support from various trainers. A lot of the trainers that are giving me rides now, I rode for as an apprentice. I worked hard in keeping those contacts over the years and that has paid dividends now. I am very grateful to them all.

Pat Smullen: has hailed agent Kevin O'Ryan for keeping him in the huntCredit: Caroline Norris

I suppose last Friday at Dundalk was a big night for me. To ride four winners at that time was very important and it put me back in a position where I have a realistic chance of winning the title. It was needed, badly needed, to stay in touch.

I think and hope that it will go right down to the wire. I genuinely believe that it will come down to the final day.

It is obviously very entertaining for the public but it is hard work for me and Colin. Both of us are giving 100 per cent and doing everything within our power to win the title. It has been a great battle.

Colin is an up-and-coming rider and it is only a matter of time before he is champion. That is why I am so keen to win it this year – I know it might well be him next year and the year after. If he doesn't win it this year it is only a matter of time. He's a very talented rider.

It has been a very fair and clean fight so far and, if Colin does win it, I will congratulate him and say 'well done', as he will have deserved it.

There are 13 meetings left and Kevin will be trying to get me the best rides he can over the coming weeks. We won't be pulling any rabbits out of the hat. Dermot will have a few nice horses for me but I'm hoping other trainers will continue to support me too.

What total will win it? Realistically I can't see either of us reaching 100 winners. That would be a fair achievement if either of us did and, if that happened, I would imagine it would definitely be enough to take the title.

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