Listowel hosts the only Listed action in the UK and Ireland on Tuesday, with a seven-race card featuring the Edmund & Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes.
Joseph O'Brien is expected to be triple-handed for the 1m1f Listed Edmund & Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes (3:50) with Vega Magnifico, Miramis and Adelaise representing the Owning Hill trainer. The five-year-old Miramis could be the pick of the three, returning to a longer trip after two solid performances over seven furlongs. The mare joined O'Brien from Sheila Lavery in April and took a while to come to hand before making a successful transition from handicaps to Listed company when taking the Corrib Fillies' Stakes at Galway. She ran another big race to finish third in the Group 3 Fairy Bridge Stakes at Tipperary and is a previous winner over 1m1f for former connections.
Aidan O'Brien's Carracci appears to be something of a nine-furlong specialist, having produced his best form over this distance. He has been very disappointing in big mile handicaps on his last two outings, but produced a big effort off top-weight when a head second in the 1m1f Dublin To Bahrain Handicap at Leopardstown in late July. The colt boasts an impeccable pedigree, out of a full-sister to Giant's Causeway, and has shown considerable improvement since his third in the Group 3 2000 Guineas Trial Stakes at Leopardstown in April.
Although previous Listed form could be key in this competitive field, Blues Emperor catches the eye as a gelding who deserves to try tougher competition. The Johnny Murtagh-trained four-year-old has enjoyed a very successful season for the yard, achieving two big handicap wins at Naas and the Curragh in May and July. He was near the top of the handicap when only beaten a neck second in the Irish Cambridgeshire over a mile in late August and connections have wisely made the decision to try Listed company.
WIN: CARRACCI
The 7f Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (2:05) could be an exciting affair with Aidan O'Brien's Master Of The Hunt taking on Donnacha O'Brien's more experienced Starliner. Master Of The Hunt fared the worst of the three Ballydoyle runners on his debut in a seven-furlong Curragh maiden, finishing third behind stablemates Henry Longfellow and Mythology. The form of this race has been given an obvious boost with Henry Longfellow winning the Group 1 National Stakes subsequently and Mythology placing second in a French Group 3.
Master Of The Hunt may not need to find much improvement to win this (especially with the benefit of Killian Hennessy's apprentice claim), but Starliner represents solid competition, having finished in the frame on all three of his racecourse starts. The son of Showcasing produced a good second behind Instant Appeal at Gowran Park on his last start, with the winner having previously placed behind City Of Troy and Deepone. He continues to make gradual improvement, and should put up some opposition to the likely favourite.
WIN: MASTER OF THE HUNT
In the 1m Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Race (4:25), Ger Lyons' Tamrat will be aiming to retain his unbeaten record. The Invincible Spirit colt had to be kept to his task by jockey Colin Keane but pulled out a head success ahead of Ortelius with subsequent Punchestown winner Ocean Conquest back in fifth.
The progressive Nor Time Nor Tide has the opportunity to add back-to-back victories following an easy four-and-a-quarter length success at Killarney over a mile at the end of August. The colt had placed on his first two runs when showing some signs of inexperience but looked a different horse at Killarney, powering past the field to take the lead with a furlong to run before pulling clear. He is a half-sister to Listed winner Galleria Borghese and represents first-season sire Ten Sovereigns.
WIN: NOR TIME NOR TIDE
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1: MASTER OF THE HUNT
RACE 2: PURRING ALONG
RACE 3: MERCURIAL
RACE 4: CARRACCI
RACE 5: NOR TIME NOR TIDE
RACE 6: CRISTAL CLERE
RACE 7: PINOT GRIS
