Saint sends favourite backers home happy

Just four went to post for the winners bumper, the last race on the card (with the early defection of Tahrir Square), with the John Kiely trained, Derek O'Connor ridden Saint Gervais not letting down favourite coming home an easy winner at the odds of 4/6.

Having finished well behind Burn And Turn on his debut at the Punchestown Festival in May, the 6yo son of Revoque, then ran a much better race to finish second just half a length behind Clondaw Warrior at Cork.

He then won last time out at Galway beating subsequent Bellewstown winner Maller Tree by an easy nine lengths. Today he had his four rivals off the bridle as they ran up the home straight and cruised into the lead before asserting from over a furlong out to score by three and three parts of a length. Owega Star ran a nice race to finish second at 13/2 while Sin Palo was a further five and a half lengths back in third. The only other runner Miss Mexico at 25/1 finished a further twenty five lengths back in fourth and last.

Winning trainer John Kiely said afterwards: "He did it easy, what kind of race it was I'm not sure.

"He will go for a winners of two bumper at Tipperary next as long as he comes out of this well. He will go hurdling in time.

"He is a nice horse to look forward too and we are lucky to have him."

Winning rider Derek O'Connor said afterwards: "The owners are very nice people and John had him very well turned out for today. We have gone from the Galway Festival to the Listowel Festival with him and I'm just glad to be part of it."

Donal Murphy