Lee registers first Listowel success Trainer Norman Lee registered a first Listowel festival success today, landing the Kathleen Walsh Memorial Handicap Hurdle with Ladiam (17/2), under jockey Conor Smithers. Previously successful one in 2023 and again once last year, the daughter of Malinas led travelling well before the final bend and stayed on well to score by 2.5 lengths from Drumadeise . Gort-based Lee, whose best performer Sole Pretender landed the 2021 Grade 3 Grimes Hurdle, reported “Ladiam is a fierce honest mare who we have a long time, and is owned by lovely owners. “She runs well every year but hadn’t won for a while, and good ground is crucial to her. She is a lovely mare in her own grade, is as genuine as could be and wears her heart on her sleeve. “It is a great to get a Listowel festival winner as we are training a good few years and got there today. She won a bit too easily but I don’t mind that and the horses are in mighty form. We’ve had four winners recently from a small yard of horses and a small operation, so I’m delighted and a bit emotional. We’re going well so hopefully we’ll keep it up.”
