< Secretary Of State earned his reward for consistency when he defied top weight to land the feature Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery at Listowel.

Beaten favourite in five of his six outings, including all four times when he was second, the Aidan O'Brien-trained youngster was sent off a 4-1 chance this time in first-time blinkers.

Never far off the pace in the hands of Joseph O'Brien, he took over approaching the final bend and stayed on stoutly in the testing conditions to hold French Quebec by a length.

Dermot Weld's youngster Swerve showed the benefit of her debut fourth at the Curragh a fortnight ago as she ran away with the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

Pat Smullen grabbed the rails berth and after being on the pace all the way, the 15-8 favourite quickened clear through the final furlong to win by eight and a half lengths.< Slieveardagh has done all his winning at distances less than the two and a half miles of the John F McGuire Novice Chase, but he looked at ease under Barry Geraghty and won cosily enough.

Edward O'Grady's charge (9-4 favourite) went to the front approaching the second-last and kept on strongly to hold Action Master by three lengths to continue his progression over fences.< Shadow Eile (10-11 favourite) confirmed the impression that she is a highly promising recruit to jumping as she sauntered away with the ITBA Fillies Scheme Novice Hurdle under Shay Barry.

Dot Love's charge went on in mid-race and though Back In A Tic and Meitheamh tried to stay in touch, they were fighting a losing battle and the winning distance was an untroubled six and a half lengths.

The well-backed Beir Bua found plenty when called on for an effort by Andrew Leigh in the Ladbrokes Ireland Handicap Hurdle and Jessie Harrington's 10-1 shot got away quickly from the last to win by three lengths.