Dullea strikes at Tramore with Colonel Lesley

Colonel Lesley (9/2, from 9s this morning) won the Ardmore Handicap Hurdle ridden by 5lb claimer Conor Orr.

The grey travelled in a good rhythm throughout and took up the running going to the second last.

He was a little awkward over the last, but asserted again close home to beat Caddy Shack (6/1) by three quarters of a length with the 4/1 favourite Shedding another length and a quarter back in third.

The Lilbourne Lad 4-year-old had finished third at Ballinrobe back in July.

He was getting off the mark on his second start for winning trainer James Dullea who said: "It's been a while since our last winner, it was before the lockdown.

"We haven't had many runners and our summer was quiet. They are just coming to hand in the last fortnight.

"I'm delighted with him. He came out of Eugene O'Sullivan's and Neill O'Donnell recommended him to me. I wasn't so sure about him after the last day but I think I got it wrong with him, I ran him too soon and ran him over two and a half.

"We gave him a better chance to settle into our system since and the two miles obviously suited. I thought Conor (Orr) gave him a brilliant ride.

"It all worked out but I don't know what kind of a race it was or where he will go from here. He will probably stick to something similar depending on what the handicapper does.

"He'll jump a fence at some stage but he is still only a four-year-old. He might go to Dundalk over the winter for a staying handicap, but we'll enjoy today first."

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy