Faasel provided 3lb claiming apprentice Michael Hussey with a notable win in the featured E50,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery Handicap at Listowel today.
Kevin Prendergast's gelding receiving a strong drive from the 21 year old Dublin jockey, holding enough to defeat the strong finishing Alexander Goldrun, while Dermot Weld's 2/1 favourite Steel Light could only manage fifth.
Local Grand National/Gold Cup winning jockey Jim Culloty was seen at his best when partnering his first Listowel winner on Al Eile to win the Devon Inn 3YO Maiden Hurdle. The 12/1 shot, who was making his jumping debut having achieved a Flat rating of 75, battled well from the last to defeat 8/11 favourite More Rainbows here.
Winning trainer John Queally later commented 'he would have been an unlucky loser after making a bad mistake at the second last flight. He jumps well and that's is also my first winner at Listowel.'
More Rainbows' rider Ruby Walsh went one better in the next (two mile handicap hurdle) when partnering Pharrihy to win for trainer Paul Nolan. Walsh again displayed great strength when forcing the big drifter (7/2 - 6/1) home one length in front of Cooldine Prince.
Pat Flynn's Delphie Queen won the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden under Pat Shanahan. The 7/1 winner had raced six times previously but battled well here to hold the late challenge of 7/4 favourite Show Me The Roses.
John Oxx's Darghan provided odds on punters with a few anxious moments in the seven furlong maiden, as the 1/3 favourite was made to work hard to eventually see off the challenge of 43 rated Miss Wong One. Johnny Murtagh's mount eventually defeated Fran Berry's mount by three and a half lengths.
Bacchus Prince landed the bumper for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey James Nash. Backed from 4/1 to half those odds, Bacchus Prince made all and was never headed leaving Mullins to state 'he disappointed at Galway so we decided to make more us of him today and those tactics seem to have paid off.'
The Listowel Beginners Chase was won by Jessica Harrington's Colca Canyon. The winner benefited from a recent chase run at Cork and overturned 4/5 favourite Glenhaven Nugget here under Barry Geraghty.
