Listen Dear© Photo Healy Racing
Listen Dear is sure to prove a popular choice with punters when she lines up in the Hollymount Nursing Home Chase at Ballinrobe today.
The Willie Mullins-trained bay boasts a fine strike rate having won eight times in 15 starts under rules.
Off the track for well over a year, the daughter of Robin Des Champs ran a fine race to finish second on her return to action at the Galway Festival and she will be expected to go one place better now.
The Jessica Harrington duo of Rock The World and Don’t Touch It are her chief rivals, in this two-mile-one-furlong contest which has a prize fund of 20,000 euro.
Both have been out of form of late but the latter is a Grade One winner over flights, while the former has a Cheltenham Festival success to his name.
The Eamonn Sheridan Groundworks Handicap Hurdle is also worth 20,000 euro, with recent Tramore victor Fiesole among 14 declared.
Paul Townend has been booked to ride this son of Montjeu and the versatile gelding can be expected to go close. Lucky Icon has a course and distance win to his name and it will be interesting to see how he fares in a first time hood, while others for the shortlist here are handicap debutant Masterstonemason Guido Reni and Hearts Are Trumps
Rachael Blackmore has been booked to ride Masterstonemason, while she will also be aboard Directional in the Corrib Oil Handicap Hurdle.
The Eoin McCarthy-trained six-year-old was successful at Kilbeggan in June and has since finished second at Limerick last month.
He should give a good account of himself here, with Goodnightngodbless Se Mo Laoch and Oh’herewego others to consider in this very competitive contest.
The David Heneghan Memorial Handicap Hurdle is yet another wide-open affair, with the ultra-consistent Fairymount Boy probably the safest option in this two-and-a-half-mile heat. Kamil Imperial Way and Bang Bang Rose appear the ones to focus on in the Calor Gas Beginners Chase, while the 108-rated Bluegrass Princess might be able to take the opening Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.
Fifteen are set to take part in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Flat Race and So Lonely might be able to get a deserved win to her name here after filling the runner-up berth on her last three starts.
