Hopes Are High readily accounts for his rivals in Listowel opener Despite carrying a winners penalty, Hopes Are High readily accounted for nine rivals in the Harvest Festival opener at Listowel, the Charleville Cheese 3yo Hurdle. Successful at Ballinrobe on his penultimate start, the Bill Durkan-trained grey was third when last seen at Down Royal. A 5/2 chance (touched 9/2 early), the son of Shaman tracked the leaders under Philip Byrnes and travelled nicely in third on the approach to the straight. Getting to the front after two out, he skipped clear before the final flight and ultimately came home a length-and-three-quarters to the good in the colours of the Don't Tell Your Mother Syndicate. Returned the 13/8 favourite, Whats New almost unseated Cian Quirke at the fourth and while in front after three out, he couldn't match the winner from the next and had to settle for second. Coming from off the pace, Gforcejenny (22/1) finished a never nearer third, six-lengths off the runner-up. "The ground was probably too quick the last day in the north and if it hadn't been the first race I would have pulled him out," assistant trainer Gary Bannon reflected. "He also got there a bit soon in the north and Philip was adamant that he'd hold on to him today, much the same as he did in Ballinrobe. He always liked this horse. "He worked with the horse that finished second yesterday, Touch The Moon, during the week and worked a lot better than him but you never want to say too much. "He said he idled a lot when he got there but he's very quick over his hurdles and loses nothing in the air. "He said he gave him a much better feel with the juice in the ground today. "He's a nice horse going forward and Bill and his grandsons own him with a syndicate of lads from America. That's their first horse and they bought him in July along with Touch The Moon. They have been two good purchases. "It would be nice to have a horse to run in some of those better juveniles for the lads. I'd say a little bit more juice wouldn't hinder him. "I don't know if he's good enough to go to Cheltenham in November but we'll see what the lads want to do. It's a bit of fun and a good excuse to get away and have a bit of craic. "There will definitely be one or two others going from ours, we've a lot of nice horses this year. "The lads are very good supporters of me and it makes my job easy." STEWARDS REPORTS Cian Quirke, rider of Whats New, trained by Andrew Slattery, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount jumped a bit left and made a bad mistake at the fourth hurdle. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
