Hi all,
The action switches from the jumpers to the flat on day three of the Listowel Festival. The feature race of an eight-race card is the Listed Edmund & Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes (4.37). I have a couple of selections from the Irish track today.
Listowel
4:37 – Edmund & Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes (Listed Race) – 1m 1f
Roca Roma looks sure to be popular choice to give the inform Ger Lyons another winner. The 4-year-old a winner at Killarney two starts back. Improved to run Pearls Galore to 1 ¾ lengths when 2nd of 15 in a Group 3 at Tipperary last time and the winner has since gone close in a Group 1 at Leopardstown. No issues with the ground for the filly and she the one they must beat.
At bigger odds I prefer the claims of Visualisation. The 3-year-old didn’t seem to stay 1m 2f in Group 3 company last time. However, he’s better judged on his 2 ½ length 2nd of 14 behind Foxes Tales in a Royal Ascot handicap. The slight drop in trip should suit as will the rain softened ground. In fact, he won’t mind if the ground was to ease further given his best four RPR’s have come on soft or heavy ground.
4:37 – 1pt win – Visualisation – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
5:40 – Listowel Arms Hotel Handicap – 1m
The softer the ground the better for Comfort Line who looks on a competitive mark.
Starting Monday was said to have not handled the track or the quick ground when a beaten favourite at Ballinrobe 92-days ago. Today’s softer ground is a plus and he’s been given a break to freshen up. A winner on his seasonal return in March and looks set for a big run here.
Fil The Power is a consistent enough handicapper, albeit he doesn’t find winning easy. The 4-year-old finished a length 3rd of 17 at Leopardstown on his last flat start. A reproduction of that performance would see him go close here.
1pt win – Fil The Power – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John