Well-backed Slade gets off the mark

Jack Slade justified plenty of market support to record his first career success in the opening divide of the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

A good second to Shake The Bucket at Down Royal last month, the Noel Meade trained six-year-old was available at 10/3 last night.

The son of Stowaway opened on-course at 2/1, before going off the clear 7/4 market leader in the colours of the No Rush Man Syndicate.

Settled in mid-division on the inner, the Jonathan Moore (had three winners in the UK this week) ridden six-year-old improved into second on the approach to three out.

He was ridden to challenge after the next, and got to the front on the run-in, going on to beat the front-running Georgie (20/1) and Ryan Treacy by two lengths. Think Of Me (10/1) kept on well to take third, a further head back under Brian Cawley.

Noel Meade said afterwards: "He's been a bit disappointing and it's nice to see him winning a race.

"At the beginning we thought a lot of him. He started favourite at Naas but it was downhill after that and we nearly gave up on him.

"We decided to throw him out and try him on faster ground. Even though he's not the greatest mover he travelled better in Down Royal and I thought that was a better race than today's.

"These are the nicest lads I've ever trained for. Syndicates tend to get disgruntled but fair play to them they've stuck with it."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson