The money told the story in the opening seven furlong juvenile maiden at Listowel on Kerry National day.

Kevin Prendergast’s Leatherwood was backed in from 3/1 to 9/4 favouritism while Aidan O’Brien’s Foot Soldier was weak in the market as he drifted from 2/1 to 5/2. Joseph O’Brien on board this Ballydoyle representative put up three pounds overweight.

Punters were latching on to the fact that Leatherwood had finished a neck in front of Foot Soldier at Gowran Park in August.

Front-runner Leatherwood duly scored from his market rival as Declan McDonogh scored a comfortable three lengths success, having kicked on again at the final bend when his rivals were all off the bridle.

Augustine Leahy’s Danequest (14/1), the most experienced horse in the race with six previous outings, stayed on to beat Dermot Weld’s Custom Cut for third, five lengths behind the first two.

Michael Graham