Brave Troop

(Barry Fitzgerald)

Listowel, September 20th

The seven-furlong handicap won by Dragon Of Malta was a very tight fought affair with a length covering the first five home with Brave Troop two noses away in third. Barry Fitzgerald’s four-year-old could be called the moral winner here though because of the front five spread across the track, he came from much further back and it was to his real credit that he got himself into contention, having been 10 lengths off the leaders on the turn. There is another race to be won with him off the back of this effort, and he may well benefit from coming back up in trip. His mark of 97 over hurdles looks very attractive also.

Curvature

(Jessica Harrington)

Listowel, September 20th

It looked that Curvature was going to take the feature listed race at Listowel on Tuesday for much of the nine-furlong journey but in the end she was just edged out by stablemate Maud Gonne Spirit and Miramis. It was a fine effort from her though, racing from the front, and she probably paid for her earlier exertions in the softening ground. Earlier in the season she had three lengths to spare over Warm Heart in a heavy ground Leopardstown maiden, so she clearly has a bit of class, and with conditions likely to stay this way in the coming weeks, connections may be able to find her a good opportunity.

Snapraeterea

(Joseph O’Brien)

Listowel, September 20th

Snapraeterea’s race probably ended as soon as it began in the one-mile handicap at Listowel on Tuesday as she missed the break badly and was forced to race in rear with a steady pace up front. Spanish Tenor and Laughifuwant, first and second throughout, basically dominated this contest and Joseph O’Brien’s filly was the only one from the back to really get anyway close when she came through to finish fourth. She deserves a big upgrade and this was more evidence that she looks up to taking a handicap off a mark of 98 - she finished fast to take second in the Ahonoora Handicap previously.

Chemical Energy

(Gordon Elliott)

Listowel, September 21st

Gordon Elliott has consistently said that Chemical Energy is a better horse on better ground so the softer conditions that prevailed in the Kerry National were probably against him. He was up in the van for most of the journey before he got tired on what was also his seasonal debut, eventually finishing sixth. The seven-year-old does operate on soft ground but he hasn’t had much chance to race on it and there is a possibility he could improve significantly when he does. He’s only had seven chase starts so a big handicap chase win is a very reasonable target for him this term.

Katonah

(Noel Meade)

Listowel, September 22nd

Night Moon absolutely bolted up in the mile-and-a-half handicap at Listowel on Saturday but the second horse, Katonah, very much caught the eye. Racing towards the rear, she travelled really well for Colin Keane, but while Night Moon kicked on, she was stuck behind a wall of horses. She had to be switched right to the outside, and by then the race was over, but she still came through stylishly under hands and heels to take second. She looks like a winner in waiting.