31-05-2025
Kara Sacre can strike for Nolan at Listowel
A hectic bank holiday weekend is in store, with two meetings in Ireland on each of the three days. This afternoon's action is in Listowel and Tramore, both hosting National Hunt racing, and the nap on a difficult day goes to Kara Sacre, in the third race at the Kerry venue.
Paul Nolan's lightly-raced five-year-old gelding contests the Eamon Foran Memorial Maiden Hurdle and if he can return to the form he showed when winning his only point-to-point and when runner-up on his track debut, he will take a great deal of beating. He was a touch below that when third last time, but he wasn't doing his rider any favours in the closing stages.
Back going left-handed and open to plenty of improvement, he can put a first track success on his card. Money for Corbally Cross would be interesting, while Reiki Revolution is respected as he will find this less demanding than the race he contested at Killarney.
Eoin McCarthy, who saddled a double on Thursday night at Limerick, has some good chances on the card, and those which appeal most are Aboy Joey, in the John Thomas McNamara Handicap Hurdle, and Fast Felix, in the Insurance Wise Handicap Hurdle.
In Tramore, Gaoth Chuil will be hard to beat in the opener, and Kainsbourg likewise in the two-mile maiden hurdle. Rock On Pedro finished to good effect on his most recent run and if this race, just nine days on, doesn't come too soon, he will play a leading role in the two-mile-six handicap chase.
Sunday's nap comes in Kilbeggan, where Aspurofthemoment can continue his winning run by taking the Geoff Scally's Centra Summerhill Beginners' Chase.
Since joining Gavin Cromwell, he has raced twice and won twice. Both of those runs were over hurdles and resulted in him jumping from a mark of 95 to 120. There was no suggestion from the second of those wins that he had found his level, and he ought to translate that progress to chasing.
Winner of a point-to-point on his final start for Eugene O'Sullivan, the six-year-old is a nice prospect and should bring his career tally to four wins from 11 starts in all codes.
Day two in Listowel is for the Flat brigade and Fresh Fade showed enough on his recent debut to suggest he can play a leading role in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden. Michael O'Callaghan's colt was no match for previous winner Charles Darwin and, in fact, had to settle for third place, but it was a better effort than it reads.
Quite keen early, he never held a realistic chance of winning the race, but when asked for his effort, he kept on well. The extra furlong of this race is a minimum of what he needs and if he has learned from that outing and settles a little better this time, he will go close.
He has a favourable draw, which can't be said of Neolithic, who may be good enough to reverse previous form with Gavoo and Innumerable but will do well to win from stall 14.
Tawaazon and Rappell, who, earlier this month in a Naas handicap, finished first and eighth respectively, can dominate the finish of the Croom House Stud Handicap, and the latter is a sporting bet to reverse the form.
Eagles Whistle can take the James Collins Memorial Handicap for Pat Murphy and Chris Hayes. Last time out, at Killarney, he was a relatively unconsidered 40-1 chance and after a modest break he was never involved at the front end. However, he ran into trouble in running and should have finished a lot closer than he did.
The drop in trip isn't a huge concern as this is low-grade stuff and from a decent draw, he can build on the promise of that effort. In the same race, Still She Blooms attempted to make all the running but had to settle for third place. The drop in trip should help her and she is feared most.
