John Bowles had his faith restored at the opening session of the three day Listowel meeting yesterday with the victory of Willyelkra in the Palace Rated Hurdle. The Westmeath handler looked to the sky after the Jason Titley-ridden gelding had beaten Oldtown Court by four lengths and said: 'There is a God.' Bowles felt very aggrieved at the Festival meeting here last September when his charge was disqualified after a wide-margin viictory. He weighing in just under the permitted amount.
Conor O'Dwyer made a winning return to action following suspension when Zourito defied top-weight in the featured Turks Head Handicap Chase. The progressive seven-year-old jumped superbly to beat stablemate Regency Rake by two and a half lengths, and is likely to go for a similar event at the Punchestown Festival.
David Cullinane (17) partnered his first winner aboard Tisrabraq in the Left Bank Maiden Hurdle (Division 2). The Co Waterford rider sent the gelding to the front approaching the penultimate flight to beat Brandy Galore by four lengths.
The John Brassil-trained Midas Touch caused a shock in division one when making virtually all for a comfortable length victory over I'll Decide.
Duinin recorded an unchallenged victory in the Jimmy Browne Memorial Beginners Chase. The 5/4 favourite Beacon Lane was tailed off throughout, and was later found to have burst a blood vessel.
