Misty Lady© Photo Healy Racing
Last year's winner of the Ladbrokes Ireland Handicap Hurdle Misty Lady returns to Listowel in search of back-to-back victories on day five of the Harvest Festival meeting.
John Cullen 's Oscar mare edged out Lilly The Lioness by a nose 12 months ago, with The Nutcracker just three-quarters of a length back in third. The latter takes her chance this time too.
Misty Lady is now operating off an 8Ib higher mark. Sean Flanagan again takes the mount, whilst in the case of The Nutcracker, she's perched 13lb higher in the ratings than this time in 2015.
Andrew Lynch partnered The Nutcracker then, but Tom Gibney has not surprisingly elected to claim off the daughter of Antonius Pius here, giving Mark Flanagan the leg up with his 7Ib allowance.
Two last-time-out winners St Stephens Green and Jack The Wire will definitely attract their share of support, and Delegate is another with a chance.
Willie Mullins is two-handed with Rupert Lamb (Ruby Walsh) and Herminator (David Dunsdon) representing Closutton.
Half-an-hour later Mullins and Walsh have decent prospects with the in-form grey King's Wharf in the Devon Inn Hotel Handicap Hurdle. He was second reserve for the Kerry National at the track on Wednesday.
Up-in-trip King's Wharf is bidding for a fourth win in five outings and he only lost out by a neck last time at Bellewstown.
The concluding Helena Sheahan Memorial (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race promises to be an informative affair with five winning youngsters facing off.
There will likely be a reputation enhanced, and perhaps a bubble or two burst. Oscars Boss has already scored on a soft to heavy surface, and he could be best placed to cope with the testing conditions.
