Dragon Of Malta just loves it around Listowel Dragon Of Malta continued his love affair with Listowel as he brought up the 'double double' in the WTW Willis Towers Watson Handicap. This was the third time in the last four years that he landed this race. Last year, he claimed it a day after winning a mile handicap, and this year he took it the day after winning a nine furlong handicap. Julian Pietropaolo was on board once again and soon had him tracking front-running La La Lucrative in the box seat. The game Dragon Of Malta wore down La La Lucrative in the closing stages and grittily came in by a length and a quarter to the cheers of favourite backers who took the 100/30. La La Lucrative had to settle for second at 7/2 and was a length and three-parts in front of Apache Outlaw (9/2). An emotional Pat O'Donnell said: "That is five wins at this festival which is an incredible record. To see the myriad of people here today is lovely and, win, lose or draw, we'll be back here again next year. Down south, this meeting is our Cheltenham. "I joked with my daughter Sylvia that if he won again today, that Listowel would have to name a race after him, but she replied, 'no, it'll have to be a bar!' "This is wonderful stuff and he is a real horses for courses. It is quite incredible and, while the strict form lads say he needs heavy-heavy-heavy, jockey Shane Foley told us yesterday that it was just the track which suits him. "We initially hit on Julian to claim 7lb last September, and he definitely gets his fractions right anyway. He knew how the race would pan out and had his homework done. "The horse will have an easy week now and it is just a lovely story." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
