Hi all.
Highland Penny made all to win at Listowel yesterday to give the service a nice profit over the weekend.
There’s no racing in Britain today as it’s the Queen’s funeral at Westminster. However, there’s racing In Ireland at Listowel and Fairyhouse.
Listowel
The Liam Healy Memorial Lartigue Hurdle (Grade B Handicap) (3:35) is the highlight of a seven race card on day two of the Listowel Festival. It’s a valuable pot with €35,400 on offer to the winner.
3:35 – Liam Healy Memorial Lartigue Hurdle (Grade B Handicap) – 2m
It wasn’t easy to make up ground from the rear at Listowel yesterday. There’s a strong pace forecast for the big handicap hurdle which could see the advantage switch to those ridden more conservatively.
Sheishybrid won on handicap hurdle debut at Ballinrobe two starts back and had since followed up on the flat. There’s plenty to like about the filly’s chance. She’ll be ridden prominently and is at the right end of the handicap. However, she does drop back in trip here and may find one or two who are quicker at the finish.
Gordon Elliott runs no less than five of the 18 declared runners in this year’s contest: Britzka, Douglas Dc, Ebsari, Iberique Du Seuil & Doctor Churchill. Britzka and Ebsari look the pick of his five. Elliott has runners in winning form but there are others I prefer.
Top weight Brazil has a touch of class. He improved to win the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival although he was a bit below that level of form when a 12 lengths 3rd of 9 Grade 1 at Aintree last time. This would quickest ground he hasn’t raced on, and he return from a 165-day break. Horses returning from a 90-day break are just 1 winner from 22 runners, but that one winner was trained Padraig Roche’s father Christy in 2010. Another positive is the trainers record at the Listowel Festival which is 5 winners from 23 runners +18.5 9 placed.
Global Export had solid enough form in juvenile hurdle company last season and hasn’t been disgraced on his last two starts on the flat without looking like winning. One win from five starts over hurdles and he could be capable of better switched to handicaps for the first time.
1pt win – Brazil – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:35 – The final handicap on the Listowel card. Another big field of 18 for this contest run over 2m 4f. The three that I like most are Elle Perfecta, Hgranca De Thaix and Drumcliff.
Elle Perfecta improved for the step up to 2m 4f when winning a Bellewstown maiden hurdle in July. The mare improved again when a 2 ¼ length 6th of 9 in listed novice at Galway last time. The drop back to 2m ½ f didn’t suit her but she was doing her best work at the finish that day. There should be more to come from her stepped back up in trip on handicap debut.
Hgranca De Thaix is lightly raced and was only beaten ½ length into second in last year’s race. Quickly bounced back from lesser run on heavy ground at Limerick over Christmas when a 4 -length 3rd of 20 at Punchestown the following month. He tends to be held up in his races which isn’t a tactic that’s easy to get right around here. He remains with potential and the first time cheekpieces are an interesting addition. First run for 245-days but I think this has likely been the plan so he shouldn’t fail for fitness.
Joint top-weight Drumcliff night be an 11-year-old, but he showed he retains plenty of his old ability when an 11 ½ length 4th of 17 at Galway in July. That was his first start since joining new trainer Padraig Roche and his first for 17 months. He’s another likely to be ridden in the rear so will need the forecast strong pace to materialize. A reproduction of his Galway performance would give him each-way claims on ground that suits and he’s another for the shortlist.
1pt win – Hgranca De Thaix – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John