El Tren wins Ladies Trophy again for in-form Howard

There were plenty of horses looking for room entering the final quarter mile of the Tipperary Crystal Ladies Trophy Handicap including eventual winner El Tren (9/1).

The eventual fourth home Cardinal Rule drifted left, away from the far rail, and El Tren took full advantage as he picked up well when in the clear to race three and a quarter lengths ahead of second-place finisher Fiadhna (50/1). The 5/1 favourite Full Moon Magic didn't feature in the finish and came home in 16th place.

A winner of this race last year off a mark of 54, the 9-year-old Danehill Dancer gelding was winning off 69 on this occasion, having won at Navan last month before finding 2m1f beyond him at Limerick on his previous start.

Winning rider Joanna Walton (also on board for last year’s success) said: “Aidan (Howard, saddling Winter Escape to win at Listowel just minutes later) had him in great shape.

"I got a bit stuck in traffic but it wasn’t stopping him.

"He loves a little wrestle for things. He’s a little terrier.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee