ON The Go Again hung on to land the Liam Healy Memorial Lartigue Hurdle, the feature race on day three of Listowel's Harvest Festival.

Michael Mulvany's charge has been in excellent form on the flat so it was no surprise that he was sent off the 7/2 favourite for his return to the jumping game.

Having seemingly mastered Mischievious Max, that rival lunged again close home, but On The Go Again was determined and lasted home to score by a neck.

Triumph Hurdle fourth Ex Patriot travelled strongly into contention on the turn but the lack of a recent run, as well as the steadier of 11st 10lb, told, although he still ran an excellent race for third. For winning jockey Ross O'Sullivan, it was his first ride since turning professional.

Mulvany said: "This was the plan from early in the year and we were saving his handicap mark. His runs on the flat recently would have helped fitness-wise and he is fierce genuine.

"The handicapper might now give him a few pounds but we're not worried and it's a lovely race to win. He's after having a long season and we'll see how he is after this.

"Ross is my nephew so it's a real family affair today."

STAMINA RESERVES

South East displayed excellent reserves of stamina to claim top honours in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.

Jim Bolger's Vocalised colt had shown enough in three previous starts to suggest a race of this nature was within his compass, but the honour of favouritism went to Willie Mullins' Maze Runner, who was one of a small group kept wide in search of better ground.

South East (4/1) was travelling noticeably better as they swung for home and although Maze Runner gave a good fight, South East wasn't for passing and came home two and three-quarter lengths to good.

Jockey Kevin Manning said: "Ground conditions are very tough and he got through it pretty well. He's a big, strong horse and had experience and fitness on his side. That experience was a huge plus out there."

Tonkin (9/4) was in a different league to his rivals in the Jet O'Carroll Memorial Irish EBF Maiden.

Following a flag start, the Patrick Prendergast-trained son of Camelot was sent into an outright lead fully half a mile from home by Ronan Whelan and he galloped through the testing conditions to cross the line with eight and a half lengths to spare over well-backed newcomer Harbour Approach.

Prendergast said: "I'm glad now because I thought about pulling him out. I like this horse and when I found out there were no stalls I was thinking how bad might it be for a two-year-old.

"I knew he'd handle soft and he ran a real nice race at Killarney, and the winner was second in a Group 3 since.

"Ronan likes this horse and the reason I ran him was that he is going for the Eyrefield Stakes and I didn't think he was just ready to step into listed class yet, and he would have learned a lot today."

RESOLUTION

Knowing You showed resolution which belied her inexperience to come out on top in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.

On just her third start, the Dermot Weld-trained 11/4 favourite was always prominent but came under pressure two and a half furlongs out.

Rosin Box proved a tough nut to crack, while last year's winner Gentil J also threw down a challenge, but Pat Smullen's perseverance paid off as Knowing You dug deep to deny Rosin Box by a length and three-quarters.

Smullen said: "She did it well and is tough and genuine. She gets through that ground very well and is progressing along nicely. She's all heart and stays well. She had to get beyond it (the trip) today and she'll get a mile and one and maybe a mile and a quarter. Hopefully she'll keep progressing."

Youceeyouceecee isn't about to rest on his laurels, despite backing up his recent Roscommon success off an 8lb higher figure in the Brandon Hotel Handicap. The 6/1 chance took the lead off Alans Pride half a furlong out and prevailed by three-quarters of a length.

Trainer Susan Finn said: "He absolutely loves this ground and I'm delighted for (owners) the O'Carrolls, who have a pub in Listowel. I'm delighted for Eamonn, who hasn't been very well recently and today was his first day racing in a long time.

"He keeps grinding it out and is a very consistent horse. The weather beat us all year, surprisingly for Ireland, and on good ground he doesn't have the toe for it. He'll run again on Friday under a 5lb penalty."

FORTUNATE

Alto Esqua ran out a very fortunate winner of the John F. McGuire Beginners Chase.

Bamako Moriviere and Capital Force seemed to have the race between them when going clear from a long way out, but market leader Capital Force came to grief at the fourth-last.

That left Bamako Moriviere with a massive advantage but after jumping well throughout, he got the final obstacle all wrong and hit the deck, allowing the Charles Byrnes-trained Alto Esqua to come through for a four-length defeat of Hand Of The King.

Byrnes said of the 11/2 winner: "He hit the last with a round to go. He seemed to jump really well afterwards and we would have been more than happy with second place. But they are there to be jumped and if you get it on a plate, you have to take it.

"I'm delighted for the owner (Martin White) as he has a good few horses with me and it's our first winner in a while.

"We didn't really fancy him today but a win is a win and we're delighted. We'll run him in a novice chase now and see where we go from here.

"Going in the race, I'd have been delighted if he had finished in the first three or four. He spent the month of July schooling at Clonshire (Equestrian Centre) with Dan Foley and I was delighted with the way he jumped today."

The father/daughter combination of Michael and Laura Hourigan teamed up to land the Kerry Petroleum Flat Race with Sand Fly (9/2).

The newcomer showed a decent turn of foot early in the straight to go clear, and he kept the rallying Hussle Up a couple of lengths at bay.

READ THE FULL REPORTS FROM THE LISTOWEL FESTIVAL IN NEXT WEEKEND'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD