DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25
3.25 LISTOWEL
A lot of trainers multi handed in a bid to try and secure this valuable prize and of those in that category, Noel Meade looks to have strong claims with MESSERSCHMITT (best price 7-1) and Money Dancer.
The son of Kessaar would probably just be the pick of the pair based on Flat form and his latest outing at Bellewstown when forcing the smart Zanahiyr to pull out all the stops lends weight to that view.
His effort at the Meath venue can probably be upgraded on account of the fact he got severely buffeted around when trying to make his challenge at the three-furlong pole and it was enough to hand the advantage over to his race-fit main market rival, who didn’t need any second invitation.
Despite his defeat, it was a run that would have done his fitness levels the world of good and having gone well on the Flat over today’s course at last year’s meeting )unlucky in running), the well-built four-year-old appeals as the type to make an impact in a race of this nature.
Stable mate Money Dancer has been called a few rude names in the past but there were no signs of a lack of application at Galway last time out and a repeat of the same level of form is likely to ensure she will be competitive too.
Posting a very useful speed figure at Ballybrit and the way she strode clear in the latter stages suggested that the first-time hood had done the trick and there could well be more to come.
MESSERSCHMITT – 1-point each-way@7-1 (five places)
4.00 LISTOWEL
PAUL’S DREAM (best price 9-2) may have got beaten at Ballinrobe last time out, but she left the impression she remains a well handicapped horse and she receives the confident vote to cement that view in this race for the conditionals.
A comfortable winner at Wexford two starts ago, Tony Mullins’s inmate was well backed to follow up at the Mayo venue a week later but bad blunder two from home plus a far from fluent leap at the last ultimately led to her downfall.
Whether she would have beaten the progressive, Zillow, from the Willie Mullins stable is open to debate but it is fair to say her two mistakes didn’t help the situation and even accounting for her defeat, she still ended up with a career high speed figure.
Clearly in rude health based on her last two starts, this lightly raced six-year-old has the services of Anna McGuiness, who almost teamed up with stable mate, Ballycashin, here on Monday, and her mount should provide her with another decent spin.
PAUL’S DREAM – 1-point each-way@9-2 (five places)