Tavern continues Martin's return to form

Buckman Tavern was yet another winner for the Tony Martin team when taking the Lane Family Memorial Handicap at Listowel.

The Meath trainer had been in the doldrums for the last couple of years but is firmly back among the winners of late and has his string in great fettle ahead of the Galway Festival.

Seamie Heffernan rode a cool waiting race aboard Buckman Tavern here, content to sit in third, as Jon Snow led from Artistic Choice The latter was in trouble early in the straight and Heffernan moved second travelling well before delivering his challenge inside the final furlong.

A strong stayer with a turn of foot, there will almost certainly be a race at Ballybrit for the John Breslin owned gelding.

Winning trainer Tony Martin; "he’s a lovely horse going forward, hopefully. He’s done it well and is a nice horse for the boys. He had a nice run first time out, and then ran very well in Navan, and was good there today, so what more could you do?

“He has schooled over hurdles. We’ll stay at what we’re at after that, but it’s nice to have the option.”

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.