Announcement

**Captain Christy** · 9 September 2013, 09:09 PM

1
6-145 Quito De La Roque 9, b g 11-10Rated 158
Saint Des Saints - Moody Cloud
(148) (Gigginstown House Stud)*
C A Murphy

2
PP21 Carlingford Lough 7, b g 10-13Rated 147
King's Theatre - Baden
(50) (John P McManus)*
John E Kiely

3
4460 Bob Lingo 11, b g 10-11Rated 145
Bob's Return - Pharlingo
(50) (John P McManus)*
Thomas Mullins

4
7P63 Shoegazer 8, b g 10-11Rated 145
Bach - American Native
(19) (W Clifford)*
D E Pipe

5
5-36P Forpadydeplasterer 11, b g 10-10Rated 144
Moscow Society - Run Artiste
(166) (Goat Racing Syndicate)*
Thomas Cooper

6
0PU2 Quantitativeeasing 8, ch g 10-10Rated 144
Anshan - Mazuma
(50) (John P McManus)*
E Bolger

7
15U0 Terminal 6, b g 10-10Rated 144
Passing Sale - Durendal
(50) (Favourites Racing Syndicate)*
W P Mullins

8
F517 On His Own 9, b g 10-8Rated 142
Presenting - Shuil Na Mhuire
(102) (Andrea Wylie & Graham Wylie)*
W P Mullins

9
60P9 Lambro 8, b g 10-7Rated 141
Milan - Beautiful Tune
(50) (Byerley Thoroughbred Racing)*
W P Mullins

10
9253 Jacksonslady 8, b f 10-5Rated 139
Jackson's Drift - Leinster Lady
(50) (John P McManus)*
J P Dempsey

11
F111 Double Seven 7, b g 10-4Rated 138
Milan - Bargante
(40) (John P McManus)*
Martin Brassil

12
2B-2F- Gift Of Dgab 9, b g 10-4Rated 138
Winged Love - Creative Princess
(529) (Gigginstown House Stud)*
A J Martin

13
10-37 Go All The Way 8, b g 10-4Rated 138
Milan - Kings Rose
(20) (Ann & Alan Potts Partnership)*
J T R Dreaper

14
P-671 Shot From The Hip 9, b g 10-3Rated 137
Monsun - Sopran Biro
(20) (John P McManus)*
E J O'Grady

15
1683 He'llberemembered 10, ch g 10-2Rated 136
Blue Ocean - Remember Rob
(20) (Mrs Mary Lett & P G Fahey)*
P G Fahey

16
1022 Chartreux 8, gr g 10-1Rated 135
Colonel Collins - Ruaha River
(146) (R S Brookhouse)*
Tom George

17
6444 Muirhead 10, b g 10-1Rated 135
Flemensfirth - Silaoce
(50) (Mrs P Sloan)*
Noel Meade

18
28-00 Like Your Style 9, b g 10-0Rated 134
Flemensfirth - Alpha Style
(42) (John P McManus)*
Edward P Harty

19
73F0 Romanesco 8, b g 10-0Rated 134
Epistolaire - Kadrige
(50) (Gigginstown House Stud)*
Gordon Elliott

20
60F2 Jamsie Hall 10, b g 9-13Rated 133
Saddlers' Hall - Elegant Kate
(24) (Mrs Teresa Mangan)*
Gordon Elliott

21
F2-P3 Sin Palo 9, b g 9-12Rated 132
Dushyantor - Platinum Gold
(35) (Down The Hatch Syndicate)*
W P Mullins

22
56-70 Questions Answered 8, ch g 9-11Rated 131
Old Vic - Sleetmore Gale
(148) (Mrs Brenda Graham)*
E McNamara

23
49S3 Sweet My Lord 7, b g 9-11Rated 131
Johann Quatz - Hasta Manana
(31) (Aiden Devaney)*
W P Mullins

24
1-22/P- Themoonandsixpence 10, ch g 9-11Rated 131
Presenting - Elphis
(365) (Mrs S Ricci)*
W P Mullins

25
0313 Tom Horn 7, ch g 9-10Rated 130
Beneficial - Lady Shackleton
(62) (John P McManus)*
Noel Meade

26
2327 White Star Line 9, b g 9-10Rated 130
Saddlers' Hall - Fairly Deep
(20) (P A Byrne)*
D T Hughes

27
4312 Wise Oscar 9, b g 9-10Rated 130
Oscar - Mona Curra Gale
(62) (John P McManus)*
D T Hughes

28
5P00 Becauseicouldntsee 10, ch g 9-9Rated 129
Beneficial - Ath Dara
(81) (N F Glynn)*
N F Glynn

29
3421 Spring Heeled 6, b g 9-9Rated 129
Old Vic - Central Arch
(21) (Dr R Lambe)*
J H Culloty

30
431P Toner D'Oudairies 6, b g 9-8Rated 128
Polish Summer - Iroise d'Oudairies
(20) (Gigginstown House Stud)*
Gordon Elliott

31
0-590 Glam Gerry 9, b g 9-7Rated 127
Dr Massini - Daraheen Diamond
(47) (Barry Connell)*
C A Murphy

32
5414 Black Benny 8, br g 9-6Rated 126
Close Conflict - Treen
(21) (Barry Connell)*
J P Broderick

33
2428 Churchfield Champ 7, b g 9-6Rated 126
Norwich - Ash Dame
(21) (Sean Conroy)*
Paul John Gilligan

34
4324 Fisher Bridge 10, ch g 9-6Rated 126
Singspiel - Kristal Bridge
(20) (Robert Watson)*
Noel Meade

35
46P1- Undertheboardwalk 7, b g 9-6Rated 126
Dr Massini - Bemyhostess
(456) (Independent Syndicate)*
A J Martin

36
F322 Saoirse Dun 7, b g 9-5Rated 125
Flemensfirth - Dorrha Rose
(146) (TMSC Partnership)*
P J Rothwell

37
9271 Victrix Gale 7, b f 9-4Rated 124
Presenting - Ballyclough Gale
(50) (Badgers Syndicate)*
A J Martin

38
4P31 Sean Airgead 8, ch g 9-3Rated 123
Scribano - Ryleen Lady
(24) (Brendan G Flynn)*
Mark Michael McNiff

39
4077 St Devote 8, b g 9-3Rated 123
Saint Des Saints - Battani
(136) (Dubs V's Culchies Syndicate)*
Eoin Griffin

40
785P Toostrong 6, ch g 9-3Rated 123
Network - Fleurissa
(20) (Gigginstown House Stud)*
W P Mullins

41
2134 Your Busy 10, b g 9-3Rated 123
Anshan - Springfort Society
(27) (J A Nash)*
J A Nash

42
41U2 Rockyaboya 9, ch g 9-2Rated 122
Rock Hopper - Motility
(42) (P W Mullins)*
W P Mullins

43
3U12 Another Ambition 12, b g 9-1Rated 121
Oscar - Reluctant Scholar
(20) (D P Kilmurray)*
A J Martin

44
UP1P Another Palm 8, gr g 9-1Rated 121
Great Palm - Park Rose
(62) (M J M Racing Syndicate)*
Noel Meade

45
4213 Ballyfinboy 7, gr g 9-1Rated 121
Great Palm - Tender Return
(19) (J R Finn)*
J R Finn

46
16-U8 Barel Of Laughs 7, b g 9-1Rated 121
Milan - Danette
(27) (Mrs Louise Jones)*
J H Culloty

47
8305 On The Way Out 10, b g 9-1Rated 121
Saddlers' Hall - Two Sweets
(20) (Conor Lannen)*
John E Kiely

48
31-51 Bruff 6, b g 8-13Rated 119
Presenting - Aniston
(48) (John P McManus)*
M F Morris

49
6603 Save My Blushes 7, ch g 8-12Rated 118
Tobougg - American Rouge
(20) (Liam O'Kelly)*
Denis Gerard Hogan

50
34U1 Heaney 6, b g 8-10Rated 116
Flemensfirth - The Red Wench
(23) (Miss Olivia O'Reilly)*
T J Taaffe

51
P573 Murchu 7, b g 8-10Rated 116
Oscar - Bottle A Knock
(48) (Paul J McMahon)*
John Joseph Hanlon

52
02P2 Prosperity Square 8, ch g 8-7Rated 113
Anshan - Raheen River
(27) (Owen Curtin)*
Conor O'Dwyer

53
6751 Bangonform 9, b g 8-2Rated 108
Lord Americo - Reynella Cross
(108) (James Murtagh)*
D E Fitzgerald

**Old Vic** · 10 September 2013, 03:37 PM

Paddy Power not taking many chances but at lease they priced it up

Carlingford Lough (10), On His Own (10), Jacksonslady (12), Questions Answered (12), Double Seven (14), Quantitativeeasing (14), Romanesco (14), Terminal (14), Tom Horn (14), Chartreux (16), Go All The Way (16), Muirhead (16), Quito De La Roque (16), Shoegazer (16), Shot From The Hip (16), Spring Heeled (16), Themoonandsixpence (16), Toner Doudairies (16), Undertheboardwalk (16), Victrix Gale (16White Star Line (16), Wise Oscar (16), Another Ambition (20), Ballyfinboy (20), Forpadydeplasterer (20), Gift Of Dgab (20), Glam Gerry (20), Hellberemembered (20), Lambro (20), Like Your Style (20), Rockyaboya (20), Saoirse Dun (20), Sin Palo (20), Another Palm (25), Becauseicouldntsee (25), Black Benny (25), Bruff (25), Fisher Bridge (25), Heaney (25), Jamsie Hall (25), Sean Airgead (25), St Devote (25), Sweet My Lord (25), Toostrong (25), Your Busy (25), Bangonform (33), Barel Of Laughs (33), Bob Lingo (33), Churchfield Champ (33), Murchu (33), On The Way Out (33), Prosperity Square (33), Save My Blushes (33)

**Old Vic** · 10 September 2013, 03:40 PM

Quito De La Roque has been allotted top weight of 11st 10lbs for next week’s Guinness Kerry National.
The dual Grade 1 winner is reported to be in great shape by his trainer Colm Murphy who said:’ we’ll just have to wait and see what the weather does. I’d say he won’t run if the ground is fast, but if we get a good drop of rain, there is every chance that he’ll run. He seems to be in great form and he looks as well as ever.’

Forpadydeplasterer will represent local trainer Tom Cooper who said:’ he has a lovely weight (10st 10lbs) on his back and he is in super form. This race has been the plan for a while now and while it looks very competitive, I couldn’t be happier with him. I know there is rain forecast, but he loves good ground, so I’d be hoping that they don’t get too much (rain).’

As expected owner J P McManus has plenty to choose from for next week’s feature, including the first three home in the Galway Plate, Carlingford Lough, Quantitativeeasing and Jacksonslady.

Frank Berry Racing Manager for McManus said:’ we have a good few entries, but a lot will depend on the weather. The first three home in the Galway Plate have come out of that race well, but a couple of them are ground dependant.’

‘We’ll have a good look at the race and we’ll also keep an eye on the weather. I am not sure yet what we’ll run, but we’ll be represented in the race.’

Eric McNamara saddled first two home in last year’s renewal, when Faltering Fullback accounted for Questions Answered.

‘It has been a very lucky race for me and last year was very special,’ reported McNamara.

He added:’ I’ll run Questions Answered next week. I haven’t managed to get a run into him, but I am not too concerned about that as I have plenty done with him. He has a nice weight and as long as the ground is not fast he’ll run. Good ground would be fine for him, but ideally he’d like it soft.’

Commenting on the weights, National Hunt Handicapper Noel O’Brien said:’ it looks a very competitive renewal and the fact that we have Quito De La Roque, who is a former Grade 1 winner with top weight of 11st 10lbs, emphasizes what a good race it is.’

O'Brien added: 'we also have the first three home in this year’s Galway Plate, along with the winner of last year’s Plate in Bob Lingo. Willie Mullins is well represented with the likes of former Thyestes Chase winner On His Own.

**Morning Glory** · 13 September 2013, 06:44 AM

Trainer Tom George is looking forward to a trip to Listowel next Wednesday as he targets the talented Chartreux at the Guinness Kerry National.

By Ashley Iveson

The eight-year-old won a bumper and a hurdle race when trained by David Pipe for owner Roger Brookhouse and struck twice over fences last season after switching to Gloucestershire-based George.

He has not been seen in competitive action since finishing second at Perth in late April, but George has had this valuable pot in mind for some time.

He said: “He has plenty of ability and had some good runs for us last season. He’s a big horse and I think he’s matured quite a lot over the summer.”

Chartreux is one of just two British-trained entries, the other being the David Pipe-trained Shoegazer.

The Pond House handler said: “He appears to have a nice racing weight on 10st 11lb and I’m sure there won’t be any shortage of volunteers from staff willing to go across with him.”

The Colm Murphy-trained Quito De La Roque currently head the weights ahead of Galway Plate hero Carlingford Lough.

Other contenders include Willie Mullins’ On His Own, the Edward O’Grady-trained Shot From The Hip and Noel Meade’s Muirhead.

**Morning Glory** · 13 September 2013, 06:45 AM

Edward O'Grady's Shot From The Hip could have earned himself a tilt at the Guinness Kerry National at Listowel.

A Grade One winner as a novice hurdler, the JP McManus-owned nine-year-old sprung a 14-1 surprise when in the hands of Mark Walsh he accounted for Another Ambition by all of eight and a half lengths in the extended two-and-a-half-mile Ladbrokes Handicap Chase.

O'Grady said: "He seems fine since. He'll certainly get an entry in the Kerry National but there is a conditions race there (at the Listowel Festival) as well.

"I'd suppose the fact that he's gone up 8Ib in the weights means that he'll probably get into the handicap. He got balloted out of the Galway Plate but I'd imagine that he'd get into the Kerry National with a bit of luck - it's certainly a possibility.

"He won well but he beat a 12-year-old (Another Ambition) and I'd say when you boil it all down to brass tacks, that's what he beat. If you analyse it you could pick holes in it and you'd have to say it was a weak contest rather than a strong contest.

"Either it was the ground or he was out of sorts on his last couple of runs - he hadn't run since May - so it was a good comeback really.

"I was going to run him in Galway but as I said he got balloted in the Galway Plate and then I was going to run him on the Friday (in the Galway Blazers) but the ground was too heavy for that.

"I was well pleased with him the other day I have to say but it would be nice if he could keep going forward from that.

"He (Walsh) rode him very positively and did exactly what we'd hoped for so 10 out of 10 to him.

"That was only two and a half miles the other day but they did go very fast and he did seem to be staying very well at the end of it so you'd have to be hopeful that he'd have a crack at three miles.

"I'd think that Monsun's (Shot From The Hip's sire) as such don't like extremes of going. They go on soft ground but I think you're talking summer soft as opposed to winter soft.

"This is the first-time he got nice ground the other day. Killarney seemed to get it pretty right - it was nice - just enough of an ease in it to make it good ground - good jumping ground.

"I think that helped him too but he was a previous course winner there. He won there last May.

"Maybe that was a help as well, I don't know. He's handled it twice, which is good.

"I'd hope that Listowel being a flat track would suit him as well.

**Captain Christy** · 14 September 2013, 08:28 AM

Billy's not happy ....

Despite 155 years of service, Listowel will suffocate in buzz of HRI's fancy new baby

Billy Keane – 14 September 2013

There will be millions of our money in prizes for the winners.

Our meeting in Listowel kicks off tomorrow, but, next year, this big weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh will run right into our famous week-long festival of racing.

That's eight festival days in a row. They wouldn't even stick that in Rio.

The HRI run both the Curragh and Leopardstown. Listowel is also subject to the control of the HRI. Yet Listowel will now be in competition with the Curragh and Leopardstown. Surely this is not fair play.

The HRI did consult with Listowel with regard to moving our fixture, but the new racing festival was already a done deal.

If Listowel moved forward a week, we would have clashed with the Ploughing Match, which would have been financial lunacy.

The first day of Listowel 2014 clashes with Champions Sunday. Listowel was offered a change, but, if we shifted to the following Sunday, it would clash with the All-Ireland football final.

Listowel mayor Jimmy Moloney said: "I cannot believe the HRI is running a huge new festival at this time of year. It is high-handed. We feel very hard done by."

MARVELLOUS

To be fair, the HRI has done some service to Listowel. Before she moved on, Tamso Doyle did marvellous work in setting up the massively successful Ladies Day.

But we more than deserved any assistance we have been given. It was our own money after all. Raised from the revenues spent in and around North Kerry and West Limerick during race week.

Listowel has been run for the good of the community – for 155 years. The directors are not paid a cent. Profits go back into the course.

Nearly every house in town turns into a B&B for the week. Enough is made for school uniforms and back-to-college fees.

Piggy banks are fed for Christmas. Small businesses, like mine, would be in big trouble but for the races. We spend 10 times more on wages than an ordinary week. The money circulates. Everyone backs a winner.

Now the HRI have said in the past that 20pc of the Listowel attendance comes from the greater Dublin area and our punters are mostly in Munster. But they seem to have conveniently forgotten about this big huge wide road.

It's called the M50 and gets you to Leopardstown and the Curragh in no time at all. Both tracks are only a couple of furlongs from the big road.

Racegoers will travel up the country. Dubliners will curtail their trips south. Money is tight. Two into one doesn't go.

The HRI will say Listowel didn't object to the new meeting. Listowel say the meeting was already decided upon and moving dates was the only option opened to them.

Maybe Listowel should have been more vocal at the time, but they will say the full impact and scale of the new meeting was never outlined in detail.

The advertising and marketing to be put into the new Champions weekend will drown out Listowel. The fact is all the media attention will be on the Pale Festival as Listowel comes after the new festival.

Such is the nature of our business. You don't read too much about football on the weekend leading up to the hurling final. Same thing here. But is this fair?

We will have six times more at our big days than Leopardstown had for the Champions Stakes Day last Saturday.

With their big pot of 750 grand. For just one race. You'd get more at a local junior hurling or football final than at most of the meetings in these big places where millions of our money is spent.

Around 30,000 will pass through the gates of Listowel on Wednesday and Friday.

Listowel is for the small man. The farmer who takes a few days off after the harvest. The family with a horse in the outhouse. Families with prams and soothers. The bunch of happygoluckies in a syndicate. Happygoluckies who could never afford a horse, but 30 of them can. They go mad when they win. The laugh and grub and sing and have the few drinks.

You have no idea what our big week means to us. We are getting ready for months. Painting our shops. Sparing up. Getting the clobber to get dressed up.

There are hurdy-gurdies and stalls. Classy restaurants. All-Ireland pig racing championships. Charity football games. Lovers and losers. Softened up meat pies in thick soup. Make believers and chancers.

Every sort comes, but most are the finest of people. There is no class distinction. We take you as we find you here in my home town.

The same people come back for 50 or 60 years in a row. Back to stay with the same families where they have become family.

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney must investigate how it is decisions are made in the HRI. Why it is there is no race meeting televised by RTE south of a line across from Galway to Dublin?

TG4 cover our meeting and they do a great job, but RTE is where the best promotion is in terms of audience reach.

We will ask the minister for a promise that the HRI will spend the same amount pro-rata in marketing Listowel as it does the new race meeting.

By pro-rata I mean that if twice as many people go through the gates at Listowel, then there will be twice the spend. Listowel is the second biggest festival in Ireland.

INFORMALITY

We will ask the minister if he feels the HRI would treat the other big festivals of Galway and Punchestown in the same way.

More and more English visitors are coming to Listowel. They love the informality, the lack of big people in high hats, the intensity of the racing and the friendships made.

A big Bord Failte campaign will be put in place for the new meeting. Dublin tourism is booming. Next year they will have this big festival sandwiched in between the two All-Ireland finals. As if they haven't enough already.

This is not an anti-Dublin campaign. The real Dubs support us. Jimmy Keaveney is a little god in these parts. Even when Dublin beat Kerry.

Our unpaid chairman Eric Browne says Listowel may well have to cut a couple of days racing at some time in the future.

"Our track," he says passionately, "is called 'the Island'. Our families have crossed the bridges over the River Feale, every year, for 155 years.

"With the help of God, our children and grandchildren will be crossing over the two bridges next week, next year and for a good few years more. We'll never give up on the races. Never."

**Statto** · 16 September 2013, 04:42 PM

Summary:

Based on trends from the past 10 years you are looking for a horse:
� Aged 6 to 8
� Carrying 10-10 or more
� Officially rated 135 or higher
� Finished in first 4 last time out (in last 50 days)
� Ran over hurdles on 1 of last 2 starts
� Run in 8 or fewer handicap chases
� Second or third season chaser
� Gained 1 to 4 previous chase wins
� Won over 2M 3F+ (ideally won over 2M 6F+)
� Won a chase worth 10K+
� Won or placed at a previous Listowel Festival
� Finished in first 4 in a chase at 2013 Cheltenham Festival
� First 5 in 2012 Kerry National and/or Munster National
� Finished in first 6 in the 2013 Galway Plate (or ran at another race at that festival)
� Trained by Willie Mullins, Eric McNamara or Tony Martin
� Ridden by Ruby Walsh or Barry Geraghty

**mayo** · 17 September 2013, 09:09 PM

Eric McNamara is looking to Questions Answered giving him a fourth win in the Guinness Kerry National in the last seven years at Listowel on Wednesday.
Questions Answered had to play second fiddle to his stablemate Faltering Fullback 12 months ago, but he is the Limerick trainer's sole representative this time.
McNamara admitted he would have liked to have got a run into the eight-year-old last month, but the horse was coughing.
"We didn't get a prep run into him at Killarney which is a pity as I always like to get a prep run into him before the Kerry National," he said.
"We've loads of work done with him and I am happy that he's in particularly good order.
"It's a very competitive race with the first, second and third from the Galway Plate running, but I think he'll be one of the ones thereabouts.
"Although he is lurking at the bottom of the weights he is still five or six pounds higher than last year without winning so he's not thrown in.
"Soft ground won't inconvenience him. He goes on any ground bar firm."
A maximum field of 18 is set to line up, including the Martin Brassil-trained Double Seven, who has won three races in a row at Kilbeggan.
"I'm very happy with him, but I'm a bit concerned that the ground has deteriorated since declaration time. He likes a trip and stays three miles really well," said the County Kildare trainer.
"He's mixing in better company, having gone up 27lb, so we'll see how he gets on.
"He's not reliant on running at Kilbeggan, those races were suitable for him and he's actually better on a galloping track.
"He's also won in Sligo and Galway. After this race we might look at the Munster National on October 13. That's an option for him."
Jacksonslady renews rivalry with Carlingford Lough and Quantitativeeasing, who had her back in third place in the Galway Plate.
However, she is better off at the weights which her trainer Philip Dempsey believes gives her a good chance of turning the tables.
He said: "She has a pull in the weights and she is in good form.
"My main concern would be the rain. She's definitely better on quicker ground, even though she has handled heavy.
"She's been great for us and hopefully she will be for the new owner JP McManus who bought her before Galway.
"Her form's there and Barry (Geraghty) gets on well with her."

**Morning Glory** · 18 September 2013, 05:20 AM

BOOKMAKERS cannot quite decide on who should be favourite for the Guinness Kerry National on Wednesday but they are certain that owner JP McManus holds a strong chance of winning the race with Carlingford Lough, Quantitativeeasing and Jacksonslady leading the market.

RELATED LINKS
Kerry National card*
Indeed, McManus has five of the top seven in the betting for the Kerry National at Listowel and a grand total of six runners have been declared to carry his green and gold silks with Shot From The Hip, Double Seven and Like Your Style joining the market leaders.

Galway Plate winner Carlingford Lough, the mount of Tony McCoy, is 13-2 favourite with bet365 while he is 9-1 with Paddy Power, who have Quantitativeeasing and Jacksonslady 7-1 joint-favourites.

Quantitativeeasing is clear 7-1 favourite with Coral and William Hill for the Kerry National although Ladbrokes, Boylesports and BetVictor have him joint-favourite with Carlingford Lough at between 7-1 and 8-1.

If that sounds confusing, the easing of the going to soft from yielding is expected to favour Shot From The Hip, a 14-1 chance, the most of the McManus runners according to his racing manager Frank Berry.

He said: "Carlingford Lough got a big hike in the ratings for winning the Plate but he's in great form. He wouldn't want it too heavy. Quantitativeeasing ran a blinder in the Plate [when second]. He's up 7lb but he's in good order and has to have decent chance. Jacksonslady probably prefers better ground but she handled soft quite well at Galway."

He added: "Double Seven has done well over the summer on much quicker ground and while he's in good form, we'll have to see how he copes. Shot From The Hip won well at Killarney and neither the ground nor the trip should be a problem. Like Your Style is very well and takes his chance."

Val O'Connell, clerk of the course at Listowel, does not expect the ground to get any softer before racing and said: "There is no band of rain due to hit us.

"It looks as thought it will be sunshine with the odd shower tomorrow so I don't expect the ground to deteriorate. In fact, there is a drying wind at the moment which is really helping. It's soft ground at the moment."

**Statto** · 24 September 2013, 09:16 PM

Winner was on last years jumpers to follow thread ..

White Star Line starts the new season without a chase win to his name, but that will surely be put right in the 2012/13 season. Having shown modest form when winning over hurdles at Naas in January 2011, White Star Line was campaigned over fences last term and immediately showed promise, finishing a close fourth to De Valira in a competitive beginners' at Listowel. After unseating at Downpatrick next time, White Star Line posted a career-best effort to be third, beaten just short of seven lengths, to Hidden Cyclone at Leopardstown over Christmas. After a break he was handed a tough assignment, taking on 19 rivals in the novices' handicap chase over 2m4f110y at the Cheltenham Festival. White Star Line exceeded expectations, getting into a prominent position with four to jump, closing in fourth place turning for home and staying on from between the last two fences, having no chance with Hunt Ball but going second up the hill, beaten eight lengths. White Star Line had a run over hurdles in August - second to Tarla in a conditions hurdle at Roscommon - and that should set him up for a return to chasing, and possibly a win or two in the Autumn

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