Reserve beats the ballot to win Navan's finale

First reserve Trump Card today won the concluding www.navanracecourse.ie Handicap at Navan as the Conor O'Dwyer trained gelding eventually beat the ballot and then 21 rivals to gain a deserved third career win.

The son of Lilbourne Lad was disqualified, due to interference, having passed the post in front at Dundalk last March and today beat runner-up Jake Peter by three parts of a length, to gain a first win this year, to add to Dundalk and Leopardstown handicap wins last year.

Bill Lee was completing a double on the day, having earlier won on Man Of The Sea with the jockey having also been on board for all of Trump Card's most memorable moments.

Runyon Rattler's defection from the race at 12 noon, due to a change in going, allowed Trump Card get 'a run' and afterwards a relieved O’Dwyer said “he was number 30 in the ballot and I was absolutely sick all week thinking he wouldn’t get in. It was just a bit of luck that he got in and I’m delighted with him.

“He’s a great old horse. He’s been a bit unlucky up and down, and was probably a bit unlucky to lose the race in Dundalk.

“This is ideal for him with plenty of space and a mile and six.

“He’ll tip away during the winter in Dundalk, and he’d love a two-mile race there. He will probably go hurdling next summer as I’d say the handicapper might nearly have him at that stage.

“He’s a good fun horse for the lads, and we’ll mix and match it a bit.”

Quotes from Alan Magee