Slipped saddle no worry for O'Brien

One firms first offer about Battle Of Marengo was 9/4 last night for the Listed Icon Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Trial Stakes and that wasn't long about being snapped up, the Galileo colt eventually going off the 9/10 favourite at Leopardstown.

There wasn't much worries for those involved in the plunge, watching from afar, as the impressive Gowran winner made all and scored by a length and three parts under Joseph O'Brien.

However that didn't tell the whole story Aidan O'Brien had to cope with a slipped saddle before seeing off the promising newcomer Trading Leather by a length and three parts.

Successful trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "He won very nicely at Gowran. I was a bit worried halfway (crossing the road, he jumped it) through the race here when the saddle went right back on him. I was afraid turning into the straight that he (Joseph) was going to come off and it was a good performance considering.

"He's a nice horse, he stays well and he loves that ground. Joseph thought after Gowran that he wanted good ground.

"He'll step up now and we could look at something like the Beresford or the Racing Post.

"He could be a Derby horse in time but that's still a long way away."

Paddy Powers and Ladbrokes introduced Battle Of Marengo at 25/1 for the 2013 Epsom Derby.

Meanwhile Boyles go 20s from 25s for the same race.

Battle of Marengo is 16/1 for the Epsom Derby with Stan James. (GC & EM)