CARROLL HAS WORLD IN HIS PALM; IRISH RACING NEWS.

Byline: PETER O'HEHIR

APPRENTICE Tim Carroll earned high praise from his boss Noel Meade after riding his first winner at Navan yesterday.

Carroll, younger brother of champion apprentice elect Gary, brought 7/4 favourite Donnas Palm from well off the pace to win the October Maiden from Lucky At Last.

And the 18-year-old was described as ''a genuinely good lad, a kid with a future'' by Meade, who added, ''Tim rides very well and I'm delighted for him. He has done plenty of schooling over jumps, hurdles and fences. And he's very good over them.'' Meade believes Donnas Palm is ''best fresh'', but admitted he might be tempted to run the grey in a conditions hurdle at Punchestown next week.

BATTLING

PAT Smullen consolidated his bid to retain the Jockeys Championship, completing a fine treble highlighted by the gutsy victory of Sense Of Purpose in the Kilcarn Stud 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden and a similar battling performance by Galileo's Choice, which upset odds-on favourite Chief Lone Eagle in the Newgrange Race.

The daughter of Galileo got up close home to foil Tashzara, prompting Kris Weld, representing his trainer-father, to comment: ''She's bred to stay and kept going well. She'll probably step back into listed class in the Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown.'' Smullen followed-up when Ransomed Bride battled tenaciously to beat Gleaming Silver in the Meath Handicap and completed another successful day at the office when Listowel maiden winner Galileo's Choice got the better of Chief Lone Eagle (Johnny Murtagh) in the 10-furlong conditions event.

The treble left Smullen, bidding for a third successive title, on the 78-winner mark for the season.

But arch rival Murtagh replied in the finale, cutting the deficit to three, when guiding the gambled-on Crimson Sky to a smooth success, enough to spark a quip from the winning rider, to his local fans, ''Meath always finish strong.'' Ger Lyons saddled 25/1 shot Bogie, ridden by champion apprentice Emmet McNamara, to win the two-year-old colts' maiden, beating John Oxx's Akinndi and a trio of Ballydoyle representatives.

''He went ballistic at the start at Leopardstown and ran no race,'' explained Lyons. "It was totally out of character. But he's a gorgeous big horse, one to look forward to next year. And he'll probably won't run again this season.

NO stars on show at Tramore today where Casco Bay, disqualified on technical grounds after landing a similar race at Kilbeggan in June, should put the record straight by landing the www.tramore-racecourse.com Maiden Hurdle for the Butler family.

This fellow finished second to Quidem Meus at Ballinrobe last time, with subsequent winner Renewed Challenge third, and should prove tough to beat in this company.

Earlier, the Michael Grassick-trained Heavens Peak should have solid each-way claims in the opening Sponsor A Race At Tramore Handicap.

And Captive Audience, second to Call The Police when last seen at Clonmel back in May, might get the better of locally-trained Mr Clyde in the lady riders' bumper.

CAPTION(S):

TIPPED FOR BIG FUTURE Apprentice jockey Tim Carroll