Listen Dear© Photo Healy Racing
Prolific mare Listen Dear returns from over a year on the sidelines in the Lord Hemphill Memorial Handicap Chase at Galway today.
The Supreme Horse Racing Club-owned mare has won eight of her 14 starts under rules including Grade Three triumphs over hurdles and fences.
She has been sidelined by injury since claiming her fourth chase win from six attempts at Ballinrobe in May of last year, but is reported to be in fine form ahead of her long awaited comeback.
Steve Massey, racing manager for the owners, said: “Willie is very happy with her and it will be great to get her back on the track.
“She was declared for the Galway Plate during the week but unfortunately didn’t make the cut. It just goes to show you how much the quality of the racing at Galway has increased when a 140-rated horse doesn’t get a run.
“She’s been off for over a year and it’s a tough ask for her in what looks a very competitive handicap.
“It’s a tough enough place to start, but when you’re rated 140 you’re limited as to where you can run, so we’ll give it a go.
“I’m sure she’ll be up near the front as she usually is and if she jumps well and handles the ground then hopefully she has her chance.”
Listen Dear is one of two runners for champion trainer Willie Mullins, with stable jockey Ruby Walsh preferring her to joint top-weight Koshari, who returns to action just four days after finishing tailed off in the Galway Plate in the hands of Paul Townend.
Jessica Harrington ’s Rock The World and the Henry de Bromhead-trained Calino D’airy also ran in the Plate and have been declared to go again, while Gordon Elliott could saddle The Game Changer was pulled up in Thursday’s Galway Hurdle.
Other contenders include Harrington’s Woodland Opera Edward O’Grady’s The West’s Awake, the Noel Meade-trained Bel Ami De Sivola and Blast Of Koeman from Robert Tyner’s yard.
As many as five horses who ran in the Plate could do battle again in the SCL Sales Chase.
The Mullins-trained trio of Alechi Inois, Haymount and Saturnas could all make swift reappearances along with De Bromhead’s pair of Devils Bride and Sub Lieutenant
The concluding day of the Galway Festival gets under way with the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle and the field is headed by Des McDonogh’s Hearts Are Trumps who bids to follow up a Clonmel victory under Donal McInerney.
Other leading hopes include Robbie McNamara’s Matin D’anjou, the mount of Conor Brassil, and the Katie O’Farrell-ridden Ingleby Mackenzie who is on a hat-trick for Eoin Doyle.
The final race of the meeting is the Fr. Breen Memorial (Pro-Am) INH Flat Race and plenty of punters will be banking on Willie and Patrick Mullins to send them home with a winner through runaway Wexford scorer Dorrells Pierji
