Allez Encore shows her fortitude at Listowel

David Mullins guided Allez Encore to victory in the mares bumper at Listowel for handler James Barcoe.

She was stepping up on a runner-up finish to Morning Run at Wexford three weeks ago.

In today’s assignment Mullins hunted the 7/1 shot round in second just off the pace that was cut out by Sliaibin Mullins then sent her on three furlongs out. He must have known what was in the tank as it’s a long way home in Listowel from there. Gee Gee Robyn coming off an absence of 646, was enthusiastic in her pursuit of the winner. She sustained her challenge in the home straight and only went down by a length at 16/1. Liss Ui Riain (7/2 from 9/2) made steady headway into third, but that was as good as it got for her as she was unable to get on terms with the front two. She was four and a half lengths behind the runner-up. Troubled Soul the 11/4 favourite, never landed a blow in finishing fifth.

James Barcoe said: “She improved nicely. She has beaten two horses who have beaten her already so she is obviously improving. She is bred to be a chaser. We’ll see where we go now.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson