Handani lands Listowel feature for Weld and Hayes 

OUT IN FRONT: Handani wins the John McGuire (Premier) Handicap in the hands of Chris Hayes.

Carrying the familiar Aga Khan colours, handicap debutant Handani landed the day two feature in Listowel, the John McGuire (Premier) Handicap, for Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes.

The Medaglia D’oro gelding, winner of a Navan maiden last time, was handy throughout, tracking Alphecca before challenging off the home-turn.

The 5-2 favourite edged ahead early in the final furlong and stayed on to hold the renewed challenge of the long-time leader by three-quarters of a length, with Sir Jeremy close up in third.

“Chris got a lovely spot and we knew he’d see out the trip well,” stated Kris Weld. “It was his first handicap, which was a concern, but we were hopeful. He’s from a family we know well, Harzand’s family, and should improve. We’ll look for something similar for him and easy ground is important to him.” 

The in-form combination of Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley doubled-up with Storm Ready and The Austrian in the maiden action.

Storm Ready (11-4 favourite) made a successful debut in the Tote, Never Beaten by SP Maiden, outpointing Zelani and prompting his trainer to comment: “He’s a nice horse and got a great prep from Jim Ryan, who looks after the horses for John Kirkland.

“To be honest, I don’t know where we’ll go with him — he’s really a horse for next year.” 

The Commonstown double was completed when The Austrian, a promising second at the Curragh last time and backed from 6-4 to 4-7, captured the mile and a half Eric Browne Memorial Maiden.

Having raced prominently, he asserted in the straight and, despite wandering, beat Teoest by two and a quarter lengths.

Harrington explained: “He’s nice and the penny was only dropping late on at the Curragh. He was still a bit green today, but travelled better and won well. Hopefully he’ll step into listed company. He’s another for next year.” 

Veteran course specialist Dragon Of Malta, trained by Pat O’Donnell, proved a popular winner of the Liam & Joan Healy Memorial Handicap, getting home narrowly from Iamimmaculate with Great Mover in third.

Now a nine-year-old, Dragon Of Malta (Julian Pietropaolo) was recording his fourth win at Listowel and will try to repeat last year’s achievement, by bidding for festival wins on successive days in today’s WTW Willis Towers Watson Handicap.

Niall McCullagh appeared to stop riding on the runner-up in the closing stages and was subsequently banned for 14 days.

Winning rider Declan McDonogh pointed to a strong pace, which collapsed late, for the debut success of Magna Victoria in the opening two-year-old maiden, another winner for Joseph O’Brien.

On a rare Flat ride, Dan King delivered on Denis Hogan’s Majestic King (7-2), a convincing winner of the GAIN The Advantage Series Handicap while the father and son combination of the Slatterys struck in the concluding Gerard Lynch Memorial Handicap as 5-2 favourite Lauderdale King proved too strong for Louiescall.

And connections of Sonic Sabiha, a nearest-at-finish fifth in the opening two-year-old event, were in hot water with the stewards.

After a ‘running ridding' enquiry, apprentice Revecca Parsons was suspended for 14 race-days, trainer David Marnane was fined £3,000, and Sonic Sabiha was suspended from racing for 60 days.

Later, Billy Lee consolidated his lead in the title race thanks to a Fairyhouse double, highlighted when the Paddy Twomey-trained Big Negotiator (9-4) got up late to deny favourite Livenka by a half-length in the listed Castlebridge Consignment Blenheim 2-Y-0 Stakes.

“She had a penalty, but she’s tough and the headgear brings her alive,” said Twomey, “She got bogged down in the soft ground in the Lowther and conditions were right today. She has the speed for five furlongs. Six is a stretch for her but, on fast ground, around a bend, she was fine.” 

Lee, whose double brought him to the 80-winner mark, was successful earlier on Willie McCreery’s Naoi in the La Bucca Restaurant Handicap.

And it was a good night for the Coen brothers, Ben sharing a double with his boss Johnny Murtagh, with Divine Legend and Pink Venom.

And Sam, narrowly beaten on Zaraahmando in Listowel earlier, was flown to Fairyhouse by Sean Flanagan and made the trip worthwhile when taking the claimer on Paddy Magee’s Shesthedevil, his 23rd success of the season.