Devonshire (No.7) winning her maiden at the Curragh last year© Photo Healy Racing
Devonshire s proven ability on testing ground should stand her in good stead when she contests the Listed Edmund & Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes at the County Kerry track this afternoon.
Willie McCreery 's 105-rated filly won her maiden at the Curragh last October on yielding ground and was runner-up in a couple of Guineas trials at Leopardstown this season on soft to heavy and heavy going. She ran a stormer when third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at 33-1.
She arrives here on the back of a fourth place in the Group Three Dance Design Stakes at the Curragh and the forecast heavy ground should not blunt her speed. Mohaayed in the first-time visor, is the highest rated on 107 and appears to be the danger.
Grey gelding Colonel Maximus performed creditably when third at Gowran Park and has a good opportunity of posting a victory in the Exchange Inn Ballybunion & Kevin Broderick's Bar Listowel Median Auction Maiden.
His trainer Kevin Prendergast also has good prospects with Acid in the Listowel Arms Handicap. After this filly was successful in Roscommon, Prendergast commented that the deeper the ground the better she'll be. He landed this race last year with Abushamah. Water Sprite is a former course and distance winner who could go well at a price in the Seamus Mulvaney Handicap over nine furlongs.
Plenty of unexposed types contest the M.S.D Animal Health Maiden Hurdle. Down Royal bumper winner Okotoks certainly appeals.
Just the four go to post for the Ballygarry House Hotel Novice Hurdle, where the exciting Long Dog bids for his hat-trick after wide-margin successes in Sligo and Galway.
Mick Winters brings Churchtown Champ to the track for the bumper after a victory in his sole point-to-point at Dromahane last December. Willie Mullins runs Tt's Star who has a bit to prove after being pulled up in two of his last three outings.
