Loosen excels in Listowel

Loosen My Load made the perfect return to action with a superb performance to win the Southampton Goodwill Chase at Listowel.

Successful on his fencing debut at Punchestown in May, the former smart novice hurdler ran his three rivals ragged.

He jumped superbly, apart from a slight mistake at the second-last, with the 8-15 favourite coming home three and a half lengths clear in the hands of Andrew Lynch.

Runner-up Schelm was the only horse to make a race of it and he was another nine lengths clear of the third Emmpat.

“He was brilliant. He got a little bit close to the second-last, but that would be ultra-critical of him,” said trainer Henry de Bromhead.

“He did it the hard way and Andrew gave him a great ride. It was only his second run over fences and having to compete against seasoned campaigners I thought he was great.

“He’s just always been a fantastic jumper. Hopefully he’ll go for a Grade Three over two miles, two furlongs at Punchestown in the middle of October that Sizing Europe won last year (Buck House Novice Chase).”