Reserve Trade gets off the mark on 20th start

First reserve Trade Marked got off the mark on his 20th career start, taking the Dermot O'Leary Memorial Handicap.

Campaigned over hurdles for the winter, the five-year-old son of Azamour finished down the field on his return to the level at Bellewstown last month.

Having started at 16/1 last night, the Austin Leahy trained bay came in for some support this afternoon, and was as short as 11's, before going off at 16/1 chance in the colours of the Irish Equine Syndicate.

Settled in rear by Colm O'Donoghue, he was pushed along on the outer from the three furlong pole. He was ridden from two furlongs out and soon hit the front, keeping on well inside the final furlong to score by a length and a quarter. Gun Shoot (14's to 12's) finished second under Chris Hayes for Pat Martin, while Greanta (16's to 14's) was three and three parts of a length back in third under Rory Cleary for his father Tom. Dixie Highway was sent off the 3/1 favourite and he finished a disappointing ninth.

Austin Leahy said afterwards: "He was too keen at Bellewstown the last day but settled great today.

"He had bits of form and loves to be held up - he'll mix it away for the summer.

"Colm (O'Donoghue) started with me riding out in his school holidays when he was still on the flapping scene but that's his first winner for me.

"I could never find him to ride for me because he was always tied up with Aidan (O'Brien) but he said that if he was ever to leave Aidan's, that he'd gladly come back to me!"

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes