Pique Sous takes no part at Dundalk as Rashaan strikes

Former Royal Ascot winner Pique Sous unshipped Pat Smullen before the start and took no part as Rashaan claimed a narrow victory in the ASM Chartered Accountants Race at Dundalk.The Willie Mullins-trained Pique Sous, victorious at the Royal meeting in 2014 and off the track since finishing seventh in the Ascot Stakes last June, was being loaded into the stalls before breaking free and running loose on the track for around 10 minutes.The favourite's inevitable withdrawal led to a shake-up in the betting, with last month's course and distance winner Winter Lion sent off the 11-10 market leader.Just as he had done on his latest appearance, Winter Lion was sent straight to the front by Wayne Lordan and remained at the head of affairs rounding the home turn.However, first Elishpour cruised up menacingly before the Colin Kidd-trained Rashaan began to respond to Niall McCullagh's urgings.The pair settled down to fight it out in the final furlong and it was 2-1 shot Rashaan, making his first appearance since claiming the scalp of top-class mare Apple's Jade in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal in November, who won the argument by a neck.Kidd said: "I don't think he was in love with it around here. He didn't travel great, but his ability got him through it. If we get a fine week he could possibly go for the Red Mills Hurdle (at Gowran Park on Saturday)."After that we will stay at home for Fairyhouse and Punchestown unless a suitable Flat race came up in the meantime."He takes his races well. He'd only run in the November Handicap about five days before he won in Down Royal, and he'd a run in the Cesarewitch three days before he was second to Hidden Cyclone."There is plenty to work on, and Niall said he had a good blow. There is loads of improvement in him. He's only back in six weeks, and hopefully it will be a long season for him."Brokopondo and Political Policy dead-heated for third.