Hurdles an option for Listowel winner Ideal Pal

Ten to one chance Ideal Pal upstaged favourite Call Me Rocky to win the concluding Tote Ireland Handicap at Listowel.

A good servant to the Mulvany family, the successful grey was putting a fifth win on the board, and he’s been a profitable horse to follow for a level stakes investment for all of his runs.

On this occasion with Declan McDonogh up, the Tough As Nails gelding chased the leader in second.

Pushed along two furlongs out, the four-year-old was ridden a furlong out. Leading inside the final furlong he stayed on well.

The verdict over Call Me Rocky and Darkened at the line was a length and a quarter and a length and three parts.

Trainer Mick Mulvany said: “He’s a good tough genuine horse. He ran well in Galway and finished well up the hill. The slower ground helped him today.

“I’m not sure where we will go with him now. We are thinking about going over hurdles but we’ll have to wait and see. He’s a nice big horse.

“He’s had a good few runs so we’ll have to freshen him up.”

S. Foley, rider of Sea The Dawn trained by Mrs John Harrington, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled during this race.

(AM & EM)