Shecouldbeanything and Jack Kennedy winning at Killarney© Photo Healy Racing
The €100,000 Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle is the highlight on the penultimate leg of the Listowel Harvest Festival this afternoon, and the powerful yards of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are both strongly represented with four runners each. Shecouldbeanything is disputing favouritism and appears to hold the best chance of the Elliott quartet.
The Malinas mare won a point-to-point last year for Pat Turley before joining current connections and has recorded a further five wins under Rules in the past ten months.
She’s scored twice at Killarney including a valuable handicap last month and Jack Kennedy again takes the ride.
“Shecouldbeanything won well at Killarney. Obviously she has gone up a bit but she is going the right way and she won’t mind the ground,” said the Cullentra trainer.
He added, “Glan disappointed in the Galway Hurdle. She just had an off day, it just didn’t happen for her. She landed on top of a hurdle early on and was keen after that but she is in good form at home. She wouldn’t want it bottomless.
“Fils d’Oudairies is in good form but he has plenty of weight while Magic Tricks would have a bit to find.”
Mullins has won this two-mile event twice in recent years with Lagostovegas and Dysart Diamond and the champion trainer’s team also discussed the prospects of his four runners.
“Icare Allen ran well in the Galway Hurdle and I’m hoping this ground will suit him better.
“Paul (Townend) has picked Horantzau D’airy who has a nice mark and a lovely racing weight and I think he has a real good chance.
“Aime Desjy has a lovely racing weight so I thought let him take his chance and he’ll learn a lot more in a handicap than he would in a novice. He can always go back to a novice but he has his chance. It might be a bit short for him.
“Cash Back is running nicely but it’s going to be tough for him. Kieran Callaghan’s 5lb will be good.”
The Emmet Mullins-trained Filey Bay fifth behind Zarak The Brave in the Guinness Galway Hurdle, is a leading fancy while Ross O’Sullivan’s Volantis has also attracted support near the head of the market.
A maximum field of 18 is set to go to post at 2.05pm.
