Kennedy hoping for home comforts in Kerry National
Returning Officer & Jack Kennedy win the Bar 1 Maiden Hurdle at Navan this week. Pic: HEALY RACING
Local hero Jack Kennedy has not yet won the Kerry National but Nowwhatdoyouthink can ensure the champion jockey adds the Guinness-sponsored Listowel feature to his CV on Wednesday.
Nowwhatdoyouthink needed five goes to get off the mark over fences but he hasn’t looked back since scoring at Cork on his final start last year.
The seven-year-old began 2026 by outrunning odds of 22-1 when second to C’est Ta Chance in a Thurles Grade Three in March, finishing in front of subsequent runaway Irish National hero Soldier In Milan as well as Fleur In The Park, who went on to win the Grade One WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse, in the process.
On the back of that fine run, Nowwhatdoyouthink was sent off the 4-5 favourite to account for his two rivals in a Cork Grade Three at Easter and duly did so, scoring by six and a half lengths.
On what was to prove his final start for Ray Cody, Nowwhatdoyouthink was then stepped up to Grade One company at the Punchestown festival where he produced a career-best effort to finish third to Western Fold.
On his first start for Gordon Elliott, Nowwhatdoyouthink ran another big race, finishing fourth behind King Alexander in the Galway Plate, the punishing uphill finish perhaps proving his downfall.
Listowel’s flatter surface ought to prove more to his liking and the fact he is the sole Elliott runner might be a tip in itself. Granted reasonable luck in running, he should go close.
King Alexander is one of six Willie Mullins-trained contenders and the Galway Plate hero warrants maximum respect. However, an 8lb hike for that success makes this a tougher task.
Stablemate Funiculi Funicula was sent off the 9-2 favourite in the Galway Plate but weakened tamely when things began to get serious, a development that suggests a further step up in trip might not be what he wants.
Against that, he is trained by a genius, he looked a progressive sort before the Galway no-show, and Paul Townend has kept the faith so it’ll be no massive surprise if bounces back at Listowel.
The Paul Nolan-trained Conyers Hill also has to enter calculations.
The eight-year-old hasn't won a race since January 2025 but he has run some mighty races in defeat since, hitting the crossbar on his last three outings, most recently when second, beaten half a length, in the Galway Plate.
He deserves his day in the sun but a 4lb rise for his fine Ballybrit run may mean he again has to settle for minor honours.
Kings Hill, Downmexicoway, and French Dynamite are others to consider in a typically competitive renewal of this race.
Even if he is denied Kerry National glory, it should be a good day for Willie Mullins as the champion trainer has a host of chances across the card.
La Note Verte bolted up at Tramore last month and the Australia mare is a strong fancy to follow up in the Ballygarry Estate Hotel & Spa Mares Novice Chase.
Caher Roes Den in the Devon Inn Dan Sheehan Memorial Handicap Hurdle and Love Me Tender in the opening race of the day, the McSweeney Brothers Maiden Hurdle, are other likely Closutton victors.
Mullins will also fancy his chances in the Seamus Mulvaney Bookmaker Novice Hurdle but Columbus may be thwarted by the Martin Brassil-trained Bartholomew, a horse who ended last season by finishing second to Saratoga in a Punchestown Grade One.
Bartholomew has since run on the Flat and, though he disappointed on that Gowran Park outing earlier this month, the run should stand to him from a fitness perspective.
Darren Norris
1.55 Love Me Tender
2.30 Bartholomew (NB)
3.05 Blue Reed
3.40 Caher Roes Den
4.15 Nowwhatdoyouthink
4.47 La Note Verte (Nap)
5.22 New Grange Next best
1.55 Tyson Fury
2.30 Columbus
3.05 Lunar Landscape
3.40 A Law Of Her Own
4.15 Conyers Hill
4.47 Miss Doyenne
5.22 Rond Point
