Well-supported Cove strikes in opener

Smuggler's Cove justified good support in the opening juvenile maiden at Listowel this afternoon when running out a convincing winner.

The Ballydoyle youngster was backed from 5/1 this morning and continued to attract money on course from 3/1 into 9/4.

Joseph O'Brien tracked the leaders on the outer before moving through with 2/1 favourite New Alliance to dispute the lead over a furlong from home.

The Fastnet Rock colt went on inside the final furlong to settle matters and post a length-and-a-quarter winning margin.

The winner was stepping forward nicely from his debut run at Roscommon, at the start of the month, when he had been fifth.

“He stepped up from his first start. He was quite green at Roscommon and a bit babyish,” said the winning rider afterwards.

“He's got a good attitude and hopefully he can progress from that.”

( Additional reporting by Alan Magee)