ESCRITO, a fourth winner of the week at Listowel for Dermot Weld and a fifth for Michael Kinane, defied joint top weight to win yesterday's featured Harp Lager Handicap in style.

At least that was one good result for punters who suffered some severe reversals, notably Ballyboden's 33 to 1 success in the handicap chase which followed unexpected wins by Tidjani in the opportunity hurdle and Petasus in the opener.

The Listowel executive are the winners as there is a Jackpot carryover today of £16,586 which could well result in a £50,000 plus pool.

Making his ground smoothly on the outside before turning for home, the Allen Paulson bred and owned three year old Escrito forged to the front inside the distance to beat Yavana's Pace by two and a half lengths with the always prominent Grief in third place.

The disappointment of the race was Helsingor who never raised a gallop. Escrito had run well to finish second in his previous three races.

Mistakes by the favourite Cuban Question and a near disastrous blunder on the far side of the course by the well fancied English importation Hurdy eventually put paid to their chances in the Southampton Goodwill Handicap Chase, leaving the Michael Hourigan trained Ballyboden and Castalino to do battle in the closing stages. Ridden by the trainer's son Michael the lightly raced Ballyboden jumped the last two in front to win by half a length.

Life Saver justified favouritism with a ready enough success under Richard Dunwoody - his third winner at the meeting - in the novice chase but having stumbled on straightening for home he returned lame. Monday's winner Kentucky Baby `burst'.

Apprentice Neill Mulholland rode his first winner from four attempts on his mother's three year old gelding Petasus who held on well to beat World Stage in the opening Tanavalla Maiden.

His mother, Roisin drove the 15 year old schoolboy all the way from their home in Ceo Antrim, a journey of seven hours. Young Mulholland who rides work for the winner's trainer Aidan O'Brien during the summer holidays rode Petasus into third place behind Orange Grouse here on Tuesday.

O'Brien had earlier won the John J Galvin Maiden Hurdle on Ballinlammy Rose who well ridden by Charlie Swan just got the better of a tussle with the Richard Dunwoody partnered Misty Moments. The trainer completed a treble when Spendid landed the bumper.

There was a turn up in the opportunity handicap hurdle when the Frank Berry trained Tidjani proved too good for the favourite I Remember It Well who attempted to make all the running. John McManus's winner may take his chance in the Irish Cesarewitch.