Thunder Crash roars back for Keane at Dundalk

It's developing into a type of penalty shoot-out that has entered the sudden death phase in the race for the 2017 flat jockeys' title between Meath's Colin Keane and Offaly man Pat Smullen, the defending champion.

Smullen issued his own statement of intent with four winners at Dundalk on Friday night that brought him level with Keane going into the last race on the card.

At that stage Keane found the perfect response with a short-head victory over Smullen to forge 81-80 ahead.

The duel will continue at Limerick on Saturday and then Keane will be back in action at Navan on Sunday.  

Tonight at Dundalk the concluding mile-and-a-half handicap saw Keane at his best to win on the Ger Lyons-trained 7/2 favourite Thunder Crash with Smullen's Bold Knight throwing down a serious challenge inside the final two furlongs.