Hidden Cyclone © Photo Healy Racing
After his win over hurdles on the opening day last Sunday, Hidden Cyclone is back to contest the closing race of the Listowel festival when he goes in the Listowel Races Supporters Club Slan Abhaile (Q.R.) Race.
The John 'Shark' Hanlon-trained 11-year-old will have Patrick Mullins aboard as he puts his unbeaten Flat record on the line in the mile-and-three-quarter contest.
Record-breaking amateur rider Mullins was also in the saddle when the multiple Graded-winning jumper scored over a mile and seven at Leopardstown in the summer of 2015, and at Killarney last July when the veteran narrowly got home over a similar trip.
Officially assessed as a 94-performer, Hidden Cyclone is also 100 per cent from his couple of previous visits to Listowel, so the 15-time winner certainly has plenty going for him.
However, it doesn't take long when looking at the rest of the field to identify some major stumbling blocks - namely Snow Falcon and The Winkler.
Snow Falcon has won his last two over hurdles, and is rated 148 in that sphere. The Presenting gelding has his initial attempt on the level here, with good prospects for the in-form combination of Noel Meade and Nina Carberry.
The Winkler, meanwhile, was touted as a bit-player at 5-1, behind 2-7 chance Simenon, at Killarney on August 20. The Winkler, though, took centre stage to beat Zafayan by a comfortable five and a half lengths. The grey is a contender again for another win in County Kerry under Jamie Codd.
The M.J. Carroll ARRO Handicap Hurdle is the most valuable event of the session, and last year's winner Buster Dan Dan is likely to make a bold bid to defy top weight under talented 7Ib claimer J J Slevin.
Slevin's cousin Joseph O'Brien launches JP McManus' dual bumper-winning Aspen Colorado over jumps in the opening John Lynch Memorial Maiden Hurdle.
O'Brien has All The Answers in the Sean T. McElligott Memorial Novice Hurdle, but he'll have to face the Willie Mullins pair of Bel Sas and Penhill.
The 2015 victor Katie Do is back for the Beasley Engineering Limited Handicap Chase, while Gigginstown House Stud have a strong hand in the Allman Contracts Ltd. Novice Chase with Tiger Roll and Tocororo.
