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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Listowel Preview

Mon 15th Sep 2014, 08:47

Listowel RacecourseListowel Racecourse
© Photo Healy Racing

Aidan O'Brien saddles Rule The Waves and Cocoon in the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery on day two of the Harvest Festival at Listowel.

The Ballydoyle handler has won the one-mile heat in three of the last four years, and Joseph O'Brien is on Rule The Waves, who won over this trip at Killarney last time out.

His sister Ana partners Cocoon again, and the Galileo filly has a best finish of second place in another premier nursery in Tipperary at the end of August.

Jim Bolger 's Intense Style and Jessica Harrington's Ernest Shackleton look the main dangers to the O'Brien pair.

O'Brien also saddles the experienced As Good As Gold in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. She has been placed once from six outings and carries a rating of 85.

However, Michael O'Callaghan's Clutchingatstraws made a very promising debut at the Curragh when second to Shepherd's Purse and he should be on the premises.

Ross Coakley 's 5lb claim could be invaluable on board Fix It in the Feale Handicap. He will be doing well, though, to give 17lb to Suburban Sky who is in a consistent seam of form.

The Listowel Track Fillies Maiden looks to be between the O'Brien-trained Adeste Fideles and Dermot Weld's Comtesse Both were beaten odds-on favourites on their last appearances.

Former Flat jockey Luke Dempsey aims to continue the promising start to his National Hunt career when he takes the ride on Dainty Diva in the Listowel Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Downpatrick bumper winner Solita may give her most to think about. Royal Shot will be a warm order for the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle. Denis Hogan's charge hacked up by eight and a half lengths at Ballinrobe in July.

He has been hit with an 8lb hike in the weights, but will take plenty of stopping if in the same humour. Specific Gravity who has been placed in valuable Meydan handicaps, contests the Bank Of Ireland Maiden Hurdle.

He will have to improve on his fifth place at Cork if he is to be involved and this looks a good opportunity for the 109-rated Illtakeitfromhere

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.