Hi all,
It’s Day 2 of the Listowel Festival. It’s a seven race card at Listowel with the highlight being the Liam Healy Memorial Lartigue Hurdle (Handicap) (3:20). There’s €35,400 on offer to the winner of this 2m contest for 4-year-old hurdlers.
I have had a look at two of the handicap hurdles on the Listowel card including the feature race.
Listowel
3:20 – Liam Healy Memorial Lartigue Hurdle (Handicap) (Listed Race) – 2m
Common Practice won a Galway maiden hurdle (heavy) last October. And he’s having his first start since unseating his rider at the third in a handicap hurdle won by Gaelic Warrior at Leopardstown in February. The cheekpieces go on for the first time and he hails from the same yard that won last year’s race. He’s potentially well handicapped on his useful from behind Lossiemouth at Fairyhouse last December.
The Lovely Man was set too much to do on return from a 5 month layoff when a 19 length 2nd of 11 at Wexford 19 days ago. That race should have put in spit on fitness wise for this and he looks on a workable mark of a mark of 116. Lightly raced and capable of better on handicap debut. Fingers crossed some rain comes before post time.
Gordon Elliott saddles a couple of live contenders in New Year Honours and Samui. The first named won a Punchestown maiden hurdle in June and was a solid enough 2 ¾ length 3rd of 10 at Bellewstown 19 days ago. Another making her handicap hurdle debut must be considered off her light weight. Samui won at Tramore in June and then came up against useful prospect when runner-up at the Galway two starts back. Below par at Ballinrobe on handicap debut but possibly something amiss and Danny Gilligan takes off a handy 5lb.
Bojak got off the mark at the third attempt over hurdles when winning a Cork maiden last time. He came from off the pace that day and he’s likely to get another strongly run race on here. He’s very much respected on handicap debut for a yard who has winner here on Sunday.
The Lovely Man – 1pt win – 12/1 @ Bet365
Verdict: The bookies have the right favourite in Common Practice and although he’s a bit shorter than I would like the addition of first time cheekpieces puts him top of my shortlist. At the prices The Lovely Man looks a bit of value at 10/1 & bigger. Especially as his trainer Colm Murphy is 2-4 with his hurdlers at Listowel since returning to the training ranks. I’m loath to desert Common Practice and I might have a saver on him. However, The Lovely Man is the selection.
4:30 – El Champo got off the mark at the fourth attempt over hurdles when winning on handicap debut at Kilbeggan (2m 3f) 24 days ago. He was nicely on top at the finish last time and today’s extra furlong will suit the 5-year-old. He’s up 7lb for his Kilbeggan win and this is a better race but he’s capable of further progress.
Swelltime struggled on three starts on the flat in May but had been set for big run when falling out two out in Limerick handicap hurdle when last seen in action in the sphere in March. Down 2lb and the hood goes on for the first time so can go well.
Clifftop bounced back to form when a 6 ½ length 2nd of 15 at Bellewstown 19 days ago. That’s a track that he’s gone well at the past having won twice on the level. He’s 0-13 over hurdles but goes well on good ground and likely to be bang there from 2lb higher than last time.
El Champo – 1pt win – 6/1 – Coral & Ladbrokes
Swelltime – 1pt win – 18/1 @ Bet365
Cheers
John