HAVING shown a revival in form when fourth over hurdles earlier in the week, Donacheady Gale (8/1) returned to Listowel on the final day of the festival to land the featured Charlie Chute Memorial Handicap Chase.

Fitted with blinkers for the second time, the 10-year-old came from well back in the field and led jumping the last to score by a length and a quarter from Law Ella.

Sean O’Keeffe was on board for John Ryan, who trains the Kalanisi gelding for John Devine.

Ryan said: “When Robbie Power won a maiden hurdle on this horse, he said ‘John, this is as nice a horse as I’ve ever ridden’, but unfortunately I’ve had to bring him back following a lot of injuries.

“When he won his bumper, he didn’t just beat good horses, he hammered them, so I knew he was worth bringing back.

“I hope the handicapper isn’t too hard on him and, if he gets into the Munster National, he’ll go there.”

Champ makes all

A winner when coming from off the pace at the Galway festival, Champella (13/2) showed her tactical versatility, when making all to land the M.J. Carroll ARRO Handicap Hurdle.

Market leader Ballywilliam Boy made good headway to challenge between the final two flights, but the Sarsfields Racing Syndicate’s winner pulled out more to hold on by a length and a quarter.

“The plan was to ride her third, fourth or fifth, but Tom popped off and next thing he was in front, but he rode her with loads of confidence and she jumped great,” said O’Sullivan.

“She has done no wrong, has won five races and will probably be covered in the spring. We’ll space out her runs and her owners would love to get blacktype with her.”

KINGDOM Calling became the biggest-priced winner in the history of the Listowel festival, when taking the John Lynch Memorial Maiden Hurdle at 250/1 to the relief of his local trainer Eoin McCarthy.

Owned by the Killarney Racing Syndicate, the son of Buck’s Boum hadn’t a prayer judging by his previous form, but improved from mid-field to challenge at the final flight and edged past Kazakh D’arthel on the run-in to score by a half-length.

It was jockey Richie Deegan’s third win of the festival, from just five rides, although Athea-based McCarthy was breaking his duck for the week and reported: “This has got me out of a big hole and a few locals backed him.

“This week most of our runners had finished in the first six, so that was good, although for us, it is the one week where that isn’t enough. It is all about winners here.

“I’m delighted, as he had been making a fool out of me last year and is a lovely horse going forward and I think he will improve.”

Equaliser

Willie Mullins notched his fifth win of the festival, equalling the tally of Eric McNamara, when Where’s My Jet (7/2) defeated odds-on stablemate My Great Mate to provide the champion trainer with a ‘one-two’ in the Allman Contracts Novice Hurdle.

Owned by the Two Lucky Men Partnership, the five-year-old made all to score by two and three-quarter lengths.

Jockey Danny Mullins reported: “He didn’t get home in Galway, but went to the start very fresh and we thought he was a much better horse than that.

“He won nicely in Killarney though and beating Willie’s other horse today was a good performance, because he’s no slouch.”

THE Listowel Printing (Pro-Am) INH Flat Race went to trainer Pat Flynn, as 5/2 joint-favourite Windbeneathmywings made all the running under David Doyle to make it two wins from three starts in bumpers.

The Free Eagle gelding was pushed clear over a furlong out to beat Addragoole by five lengths.

“I was kicking myself after Ballinrobe, as I gave him a break after his first win at Cork and he blew up, as I hadn’t him fit enough,” said Flynn.

“He is an incredible jumper and reminds me of French Ballerina. He is only four and there won’t be any saddle on his back now for about four months. The ideal thing would be to sell him to stay in the yard and, if anybody wants a good horse, that’s a good horse.”

Lenient mark

The Nagger Reidy (10/1) showed that his opening mark of 95 was on the lenient side when winning the Kathleen Walsh Memorial Handicap Hurdle in the hands of JJ Slevin.

The scopey son of Kayf Tara, trained by ‘Sonny’ Carey for Niall Farrell, made good headway on the stands’ side early in the straight and hit the front on the run-in to beat Duke Otto by two-and-three-quarter lengths.

Slevin reported: “He stayed going and it was a good performance. Going on the outside was my clearest path, so there was no great science behind the ride.”

Unplaced in five starts since winning at Leopardstown last Christmas, Galon De Vauzelle (10/1) returned to form to run out a wide-margin winner of the John & Terry Moriarty (QR) Handicap Chase.

Tralee native Ross Sugrue, partnering his first winner under Rules, produced Tom Doran’s eight-year-old to lead three out and he went away to account for Decimation by 12 lengths.

Trainer Philip Rothwell said: “I gave Ross his first point-to-point winner a few years ago. Fidelma Elvin normally rides for us and is out with an injury, but I knew when Ross was available that his 7lb claim was invaluable, so was very happy to have him.”