Minsk and Chamonix to prove challenging for the line-up of the Edmund & Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes (Listed Race)
A hard to ignore entry in the line-up of the Edmund & Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes (Listed Race) is the four-year-old bay gelding, Minsk. His concluding races of the previous season saw the John M. Oxx trained in his best possible form as he landed the last three Handicaps of the previous season at Curragh.
Today will be the gelding’s first time to race at Listowel. Six three-year-old and above contenders will race over a mile and four furlongs in order to get entitled for the €27,625 prize money.
Dalakhani’s bay gelding cracked into the new season on 25th February, 2012 in the Grade 2 Winning Fair 4YO Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse over two miles. The first one to win over the ten hurdles was the Kieran Purcell trained, Burrenbridge Lodge.
The favourite entry missed the race by a neck’s mark with jockey Bryan Cooper onboard.
Coming at terms with the third position was, Bat Masterson.
Putting up a determined performance in the graded event right at the beginning of the season, and missing the chance by an almost negligible margin has him backed up by 7 to 2 odds.
The last time the Barry Connell owned won was on 9th October, 2012 in the Hacketts Bookmakers Irish Cesarewitch (Premier Handicap) at Curragh over two miles.
Eleventh in the field of nineteen down the half-way of the track, and progressing on to the fourth position by the early straight guaranteed him a smooth trip inside the final furlong which eventually gave him the massive margin of 5 ½ lengths over the rest of the contenders.
Minsk will be riding in the capable hands of the genius of his profession jockey, Johnny Murtagh.
Another bright prospect for the prize money today is the three-year-old bay colt, Chamonix. Three different racing destinations ever since the Irish colt started racing have given him two wins.
The 11 to 8 entry has his handicap debut today, and the step-up is supported by the connections and the crowds. He will race from the third gate with the stable jockey, Joseph O’Brien.
There are entries of some strong stables today so keeping a check on the level of the competition will enhance their chances for landing the race.
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