Rogers off the mark as Reel springs surprise

Harry Rogers recorded his first winner of the season as Irish Reel sprang a 20/1 surprise in the Budweiser Handicap scoring under Colm O'Donoghue.

The seven-year-old daughter of Redback was having just her second run of the year here after finishing seventh behind Artful Artist at Leopardstown on Friday last.

Drawn on the rail in stall one she made all and when ridden under two furlongs out she kept on strongly to score easily by five and a half lengths.

Cristy’s Call came out of the pack to take second at 28/1 under Michael Hussey for Gavin Cromwell, while Truly Delightful (12/1) was a head back in third under Rory Cleary for his father Tom. Cin Cin who was available at 10/1 last night, went off the 3/1 favourite having opened on-course 4’s, but she could only manage a disappointing tenth under Niall McCullagh for Andrew Heffernan.

Rogers said afterwards: "She ran well in Leopardstown and was only beaten around five lengths so I thought she had a chance today.

"The ground suited her here after the rain came and Colm was very good on her."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham