WILLIE Mullins was crowned leading trainer at Listowel’s harvest festival on Saturday, where the champion jumps trainer sent out a record-equalling 11th winner for the week, with Roc Dino (8/13 favourite) in the Allman Contracts Novice Hurdle.
Ridden by Paul Townend, who was himself landing the jockeys’ award with six wins, Roc Dino raced prominently and having led at the last, ran on well to score by two lengths from Dad Sez.
Mullins was equalling Dermot Weld’s previous record achieved for a six-day festival in 1994.
The winning trainer wasn’t present and afterwards Townend said: “He is a versatile horse, who was set some tough tasks throughout the winter and put it together today.
“He is a fun horse, is a beautiful mover and will jump a fence as well. He had a tough season, but winning will do him the world of good now.”
De Bromhead on the score sheet
The feature race was the €50,000 Charlie Chute Memorial Handicap Chase, which saw trainer Henry de Bromhead end a frustrating week, with the success of Pinot Gris (11/2).
Jockey Darragh O’Keeffe held up Pinot Gris in mid-field and, having led at the second last, saw off the challenge of West Away by five and a half lengths.
De Bromhead’s assistant Robbie Power reported: “It has been a frustrating week for us, although the horses have been running well.
“Basil’s (Holian, owner) horse Downmexicoway ran well in the Kerry National and I’m delighted for him to get this big winner.
“That was a great pot to win and we’ll keep an eye on what the ground does now, as he needs that good ground. He stays this two-mile, six-furlong trip well, but also has a turn of foot over it.”
Duggan finds Luck
Trainer Donncha Duggan continued his good recent spell having moved to a new yard, landing the M.J. Carroll ARRO Handicap Hurdle with his own Luck Between Us (8/1).
Luck Between Us had gone unsold for €21,000 at an online sale last July and, under Niall Moore, led from the third last and held on well for a half-length win over Watch The Weather.
Duggan reported: “It was a big step up in grade from his Ballinrobe win, although he had less weight in this race, so I decided to roll the dice.
“Niall is one of the most underestimated riders in Ireland and carried out every instruction to a tee. He is fierce value for his 5lb claim and everything worked out well.
“I’d like to thank my staff at home, including my daughter Ciara, who do a fantastic job and are a great team.
“I’m looking for owners and, whoever wants to send me a horse, I’ll train it. I have 19 in at the moment and have room for more, either flat or jumps.”
TRAINER Norman Lee registered his first Listowel festival success in the Kathleen Walsh Memorial Handicap Hurdle with Ladiam (17/2), who was scoring for the first time this year, under Conor Smithers.
Previously successful once in 2023 and again last year, the daughter of Malinas led travelling well after the third last and scored by two and a half lengths from Drumadeise.
Lee reported: “Ladiam is a fierce honest mare who we have a long time, and is owned by lovely owners (Tommy Walsh). She runs well every year, but hadn’t won for a while, and good ground is crucial to her.
“It is great to get a Listowel festival winner, as we are training a good few years and got there today. 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.”
Local success
Racing began with a well-backed local winner in the John Lynch Memorial Maiden Hurdle, as Local Resident (9/4 - 7/4) scored for Tralee native Cian Collins and the Wise Venture Partnership.
Under Danny Gilligan, the four-year-old made much of the running and scored by five lengths from Trubshaw.
Collins commented: “After he had finished second in his point-to-point, the owners bought him with this race in mind, so it is great that it worked out.
“They went very hard, but he has that ability and, in time, he will stay all day. We’ll look after him, as he is a chaser in the making.”
CHARLES Byrnes’ Whateys Quest was the popular 25/1 winner of the John & Terry Moriarty (QR) Handicap Chase, as relations and friends of successful jockey Abbie Fitzgibbon were present to cheer in the winner.
Fitzgibbon raced prominently throughout on the eight-year-old, who was registering a third career success, in beating Illtakehimmyself by a length and a quarter. Regarding his own Byrnes Bloodstock Limited winner, trainer Byrnes said: “This is a very emotional winner for the Fitzgibbons, as they lost a mare at the Galway Festival, so were a bit disillusioned by that and this is great.
“We thought the ground might be too quick, so Abbie bucked him out in front. The horse is what he is and will mix it between fences and hurdles.”
The concluding Listowel Printing Bumper saw recent Irish Cambridgeshire-winning trainer Andy Slattery continue his excellent form, scoring smartly with the Mr Wilson-owned and Adam Ryan-partnered Iron Sword (4/6 favourite).
Trainer’s brother Willie Slattery reported: “We thought he’d win at the Punchestown Festival on his debut run, so were disappointed, although he got a bit excited and ran too keen.
“He will go eating grass now, as he’s had four runs as a four-year-old, and won’t be seen until next spring.”