RACING/Killarney report: Pat Smullen took the riding honours at Killarney where the Curragh-based rider recorded a hat-trick of wins.

Smullen's first win was on 11 to 4 favourite Eshaarat in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for the all-conquering Dermot Weld yard. The daughter of Zafonic battled well to lead inside the final furlong, eventually defeating Lady O'Reilly's pair Coco Plam and High Living by two lengths and 2½ lengths.

Smullen's second winner was on Pat Carey's Clare Rose in the Kielys Electrical Stores Handicap. Clare Rose was a winner in Tipperary last Thursday and may bid for a quick hat-trick tonight at Leopardstown.

Smullen completed his hat-trick in the concluding River Rock Race on David Wachman's Raise A Storm for the Jack Of Trumps Racing Club.

Grand National and Gold Cup winning jockey Jim Culloty received the biggest cheer of the night after he partnered Theseus to victory in the Sunnybank Hotel Handicap Chase. The 12 to 1 winner was providing Killarney-born Culloty with his first winner at any of the three Kerry meetings. Theseus is entered in the Galway Plate, but trainer Pat Hughes now plans to bypass the Galway feature in favour of a race over two miles at the festival.

Trainer John O'Shea does have the Galway Plate in mind for his Loan Man after the nine-year-old won the Grand Hotel Killarney Novice Steeplechase under Shay Barry. Loan Man overcame a gap of almost two years when winning at 14 to 1 in Cork recently and O'Shea later said: "He has been given only 8st 13lb in the Galway Plate but, if Montys Pass doesn't run, he may take his chance with 9st 8lb."

Rider Shay Barry was substituting for Sean McDermott, who suffered a suspected broken arm after a fall in the opening race.

There will be a precautionary inspection this morning (7.30) after heavy overnight rain.