Beauvallon can turn Galway promise into Listowel win
Beauvallon goes in the Lartigue Hurdle at Listowel on Thursday. Pic: Healy Racing
Beauvallon can get back to winning ways in the Listowel Races Supporters Club Lartigue Hurdle, the feature race on day five of the harvest festival.
A French recruit, the four-year-old got off the mark at the second time of asking for Willie Mullins when winning at Limerick at the end of March.
Despite that success, the Camelot gelding was a 28-1 to follow up at the Punchestown festival but defied the odds to land the prize.
On the back of a break, Beauvallon was sent off an 8-11 favourite to complete a hat-trick at Bellewstown but he ran too keen and was ultimately firmly put in his place by Mino Des Mottes.
However, he bounced back from that disappointing effort to run a cracker at odds of 33-1 to finish a close fifth in the Galway Hurdle last time out.
Should Beauvallon run to that level here, he ought to take beating, even off top weight.
Stablemate Al Arrivee will be popular in the opening race, the Buckley Agri New Holland Irish EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle, but she may have to settle for minor honours behind Lennon Grove who can make a winning start to life over obstacles.
The Gavin Cromwell-trained Walk In The Park mare progressed from run to run in bumpers last season culminating in a fine effort to finish second to Nan's Choice in an Aintree Grade Two in April.
Her ability to jump has to be taken on trust but her bumper form strongly suggests she should be up to this task.
Henry de Bromhead could double up courtesy of Churchwarden and Fort Dino.
Dual purpose six-year-old Churchwarden runs in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle and ought to be firmly in mix if he runs to the level he ran to on his last three starts, all at Tramore, when first, second, and third.
Stablemate Fort Dino finished down the field at the Punchestown festival on his first start for De Bromhead but showed far more when second to Ballystone at Killarney last month.
He can go one place better in the Thorn Plant Hire Beginners Chase.
Successful here with Net Boy on Sunday, Barry Connell can bag another Listowel winner courtesy of Mart Lane in the Behans Horseshoe Bar, Restaurant & Townhouse Handicap Hurdle.
The five-year-old ran a big race when a close second to Inthenickoftime at Galway last time out, a mistake at the second last perhaps costing him victory.
A repeat of that run could see him home in front this time.
1.57 Lennon Grove (NB)
2.32 Tell The Boys
3.07 Beauvallon (Nap)
3.42 Churchwarden
4.17 Mart Lane
4.52 Fort Dino
5.25 Berkstar
1.57 Al Arrivee
2.32 Give It A Crack
3.07 Ole Ole
3.42 Metamorpheus
4.17 Killowen House
4.52 Love Me Tender
5.25 Sierrascope
