The Betway ambassador shares his thoughts on a strong book of rides at Listowel, where he hopes to enjoy a successful afternoon at one of Ireland's most popular meetings.
It might be a small country track, Listowel, but it’s always a great party atmosphere down there for this meeting, and it’s one as a jockey you wouldn’t mind being at as a racegoer!
It’s the kind of place where people who only go racing one day a year might go, and there’s always a good bit of noise coming from the crowds, so it’s good fun to be a part of.
I have a busy afternoon down there on Wednesday, though, so it will be head down, and hopefully head home with a couple of winners to my name.
I kick off the day with Love Me Tender / who makes his hurdling debut here in the maiden (13:55). He has some really classy flat form to his name when you look at his runs for Peter Schiergen last year. He was sent off favourite for the Ebor last month on his first start for us, but was just far too free there under William Buick. That would be a bit of a concern with the view to going jumping, and he will have to relax here.
He’s taken to jumping really nicely at home, though, and sometimes that just takes their mind off it and relaxes them – having to jump and run, and try something different. He’s a horse we think has plenty of ability, so even though a few of these have shown a bit over hurdles, he’d have a really good chance in this as long as he does things the right way.
Another horse with some really impressive flat form to his name is Columbus / , so I’m looking forward to riding him again in the Novice Hurdle (14:30). He’s taken really well to hurdling, and although it was a tough ask of him on his first start for us at Killarney in May, he acquitted himself well that day when finishing second to Midnight Jet. I thought he really benefited from that experience on his second run at Galway last month, and he just seemed to love jumping there, so he could take some beating in this if he steps forward again with that experience under his belt.
It won’t be a walk in the park, though, with Martin Brassil’s horse Bartholomew showing a fair level of form so far. He’s earned himself a rating of 141, and we’re having to give him 2lb, so Columbus will probably have to improve again, but I do like him, and he should appreciate a bit of nice ground, which is what he’ll get at Listowel this week.
Caher Roes Den / goes in the Handicap Hurdle (15:40), and she surprised us a bit when winning at Galway the last day for Danny Mullins. Her first run for us at Downpatrick was a decent effort after a layoff, but we probably weren’t expecting her to step forward for that as much as she did, so it was a pleasant surprise. The handicapper hasn’t missed her, though, raising 10lb for that win, which could be a tad harsh, but she has a nice racing weight in this, so it’s not impossible that she could defy that hike.
I suppose she’s fairly unexposed and lightly raced for an eight-year-old, so there might be a bit more to come from her, and I’m sure she’ll give a good account of herself whatever happens.
I’m then sticking with Funiculi Funicula / in the big race of the day the Kerry National (16:15), and although he was well behind a few of these at Galway, I thought that run was too bad to true, so I’ve got to give him another chance here. We were just beaten too far from home that day, and he’s shown me a nice bit of sparkle at home since, so I’m hopeful he can leave that run well behind.
If you do put a line through that last run, his wins at Cork and Punchestown prior to that would give him a huge chance, and he was finishing well in both of those races, so hopefully this step up to three miles on nice ground could really suit him.
It’s a really tough race, though. King Alexander was very good at Galway, and I thought Henry’s horse Downmexicoway ran a cracker too in behind him, so I suspect that pair could be bang there once again. In fact, when you go through them, there wouldn’t be many you’d be in a rush to put a line through, so it’s a hugely competitive renewal.
La Note Verte / is my last ride of the afternoon in the Mares Novice Chase (16:47), and although she finished behind Miss Doyenne on her first chase start at Killarney, she’s improved plenty since then, and she just seems to be getting better with each run. I thought that was a huge step forward under JJ Slevin the last day when beating Future Prospect, and she’s a straightforward mare that jumps and travels, so there’s no reason why she won’t keep on improving.
Lady Bluebird would be a huge danger, because I thought she ran an absolute cracker last time behind that nice horse of Eoin McCarthy’s, Shadow Paddy. She’s a horse that likes to get on with it and has run consistently well in some good races, but La Note Verte has been in great order at home, and I think there could be even more to come from her over fences.
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