Preview LISTOWEL 17th Sep

The Guinness Kerry National is the highlight of the Listowel Festival and takes centre stage on Wednesday's eight-race card which commences at 2.05.

The race has attracted the last two winners in Bothar Na and Ponmeoath and the latter will be fitter for a spin over hurdles at Cork.

Similarly, A New Story blew away the cobwebs on the level at Tramore last Friday, while Green Mile won the Ulster Cesarewitch and attempts to atone for his tumble in the Galway Plate.

Class will carry top-weight Mister Top Notch a long way, with last year's third Ballyagran, British raider Openide and One More Minute, who has a feather weight, adding further spice to a hotly-contested affair.

Heads Onthe Ground has a rare outing over conventional fences in the Seamus Mulvaney Handicap Chase.

Enda Bolger's cross-country specialist is likely to need a run which will put him spot-on for races like the Risk Of Thunder Chase and Cheltenham's Open meeting, and can be opposed with Philip Rothwell's ultra-progressive Jamies Choice.

The Ballygarry House Hotel Novice Hurdle will be competitive, having attracted three last-start winners in addition to the consistent Oscar Time.

Afasheen is going from strength to strength, though, and her mares' allowance could prove invaluable.

Her stablemate Fantoche is a decent recruit to fences and is one of 17 runners in the John F. McGuire Beginners Chase.

The Jessica Harrington-trained six-year-old has put in two commendable efforts over the smaller obstacles since winning the Ulster Derby and has a future at this game.

Kennedy Hill is also one to keep on the right side of and starts off over timber in the Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health Maiden Hurdle, while Kalellshan let down favourite-backers on the Flat last time but remains open to improvement over jumps and is the one to beat in division one of the Ladbrokes Ireland Handicap Hurdle.

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