Whats New the one to watch on opening day at Listowel
Whats New and Andy Slattery win the Roscommon Racecourse On Facebook Handicap. Pic: Healy Racing.
Listowel gets its Harvest Festival underway on Sunday, but before that there are two meetings to be negotiated, and Purple Lily rates nap material in the Group 3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies’ Stakes, which is the feature on this afternoon’s Flat card in Gowran Park.
Paddy Twomey’s now four-year-old was a smart sort last year, when her form included a third-place finish in the Irish Oaks, but she has only appeared once this season. That run came almost three months ago in a listed race in Roscommon, and it resulted in a seventh-place finish.
Given that she stumbled early, raced prominently soon afterwards, and held every chance inside the final two furlongs before fading late, it was a better return effort than it might read.
The trip was also a mile and a half, which is on the upper limit of her stamina, and being back over nine and a half furlongs today and with the softer ground very much in her favour, she can make a long-awaited return to winning ways.
Faiyum is the most obvious danger. Winner of her first two starts, she found Barnavara too good in her hat-trick bid, but that form reads better in light of the winner’s subsequent Group 2 victory at Irish Champions Festival. Proven in soft conditions, a bold showing looks assured.
Gleneagle Bay was a beaten favourite in a valuable handicap at Irish Champions Festival but can gain a small degree of compensation in the finale, the Gowran Park For Golf Race. Stephen Thorne’s horse should appreciate the drop back to seven furlongs on soft ground and can put a long overdue second win on his card.
Today’s jumps meeting in Navan makes limited punting appeal but Whats New can get Listowel Harvest Festival punters off to the perfect start by taking Sunday’s opening race, the Charleville Cheese 3-Y-O Hurdle.
The gelding was a Flat maiden prior to his maiden hurdle debut at the August meeting in Killarney but he attracted heavy support to make a winning start over timber. He was set to settle for second place but was certain to run a fine race until tipping up at the last in that maiden won by Wonderfulwonderful. That form received a nice boost when the third, Sopelana, won a maiden on her next start.
Whats New went back to the Flat for his next start and took the opportunity to get off the mark for his career, doing so in a clear-cut manner. That was on soft ground, and clearly in good heart, he can erase the memory of that Killarney fall by taking this race.
Previous winners Hopes Are High and Something Noble are respected, though carrying a penalty is difficult in this type of race. Useful Flat horse Desmond Castle would be interesting if support arrived.
Jalila Moriviere can get back to winning ways in the Cheesestrings Irish EBF Mares’ Hurdle. One of two runners in the race for Willie Mullins, this six-year-old mare contested the Galway Hurdle on her most recent outing and ran a super race to finish sixth considering she didn’t jump well enough for a race that competitive.
Back in a smaller field and still open to improvement, this is an ideal opportunity to put a fourth career victory on her card. Stablemate Adela Icon can chase her home. Farfromnowhere was disappointing on her most recent outing, in a mares’ handicap at the Galway festival, but her previous form suggested she could develop into a smart sort. She has something to prove but shouldn’t be dismissed too lightly.
1:42 Ice Dancer
2:17 Hamiyan
2:52 Purple Lily (nap)
3:27 Slaney Swagger
4:03 Kodi Brown
4:35 Faberi
5:10 Cooley’s Mist
5:40 Gleneagle Bay (nb)
1:42 Define
2:17 Silk N Swagger
2:52 Faiyum
3:27 Ohmali
4:03 Pink Socks
4:35 Amplitude
5:10 Dagoda
5:40 Wannabe Royal
1:25 Royal Approval
2:00 Ned In The Park
2:35 King Mal
3:10 Jaadil
3:45 Juke Box Rock
4:20 Open Secret
4:55 Mon Sheriffe
5:30 Rebel Cry
1:25 Minella Hollow
2:00 Lady Doyanne
2:35 County Final
3:10 Rebellious Gale
3:45 Gerrys Wish
4:20 Jacovec Cavern
4:55 Sprinkles
5:30 Ade Boy
2:28 Whats New (nap)
2:58 Jalila Moriviere (nb)
3:28 Sophia Rose
3:58 Good Girl Kathleen
4:28 Hashtag Pretender
4:58 The Banger Doyle
5:28 Lady Lena
2:28 Desmond Castle
2:58 Adela Icon
3:28 Polly Poppins
3:58 Rony Has
4:28 Aspurofthemoment
4:58 Bythesametoken
5:28 Tomthescaffolder
