Lough heads Kerry National weights The John Kiely-trained Carlingford Lough has been allotted top weight of 11st 10lbs for next week’s Guinness Kerry National, which is the feature race of the seven-day festival that gets underway next Sunday, 14th September. The son of Kings Theatre was a dual Grade 1 winning novice chaser last season. The eight-year-old is reported be in good shape after a mid-season break and is an intended starter according to Frank Berry, racing manger to JP McManus who said: “He has had a good break and if John (Kiely) is happy with him, the plan is that he’ll run next week.” Asked about other possible runners for JP, Berry suggested that Alderwood, Tap Night and Jacksonslady were all likely starters. Thirty eight horses have been entered for this year’s renewal and they include last year’s winner White Star Line who will be joined by his stable companion Golden Wonder. “They are two fresh horses and this race has been the plan for them for a while,” said trainer Dessie Hughes. “Golden Wonder ran a good race in the Galway Plate, but the trip was just a bit short for him and three miles around Listowel should be fine for him. White Star Line won the race last year and he would like a bit of decent ground. They are both in good shape,” he added. Burn And Turn, second in this year’s Galway Plate is also due to line up in the Guinness Kerry National and her trainer Jessica Harrington commented: “She ran a cracker at Galway and she has been a very good servant. I just hope the ground won’t deteriorate too much, but assuming we get a bit of decent ground, the plan is to run.” Usuel Smurfer, who was unlucky not to win at the Galway Festival, is also set to line up at Listowel and his trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon remarked: “He was very unlucky at Galway. He jumped great, but the last two fences were omitted so they came up the hurdle track and he only just failed to get up. He is in great form and the Guinness Kerry National has been the plan all year and I think he is the one they all have to beat.” “Usuel Smurfer likes good ground, but he has form on slow ground as well and is a huge horse and jumping fences was always the plan for him. He won’t mind a drop of rain, but I’d say the better the ground the better he’ll run”. Arthur Moore will be represented by multiple winner Pass The Hat and he said: “He has been a very good servant and he seems to handle good ground better than most, but he has form on soft ground as well.” Asked about the step up to three miles Moore stated: “Pass The Hat won over two miles and five at Leopardstown and he wasn’t stopping at the finish that day. He ran a funny race in the Troytown Chase at Navan last season where he appeared to get a bit outpaced, but then he stayed on well from the second last. It is an easy enough three miles at Listowel and I don’t think the trip will be a problem for him.” Chairman of Listowel Racecourse Committee John McGuire is delighted with the entry. “It has the makings of a great race and to have a dual Grade 1 winner as the top weight as a likely runner is fantastic. Last year’s winner is there as well and it is shaping up into a marvellous contest.” “The weather has been very kind to us and the track is in great shape and we are all set for our festival which gets underway next Sunday.”
