Review listowel 2nd Jun

Dermot Weld had mixed fortunes in the opening two maiden races at Listowel.

His juvenile Glory Boy had something of a troubled passage when third on his debut in mid-April, but there were no such worries in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Pat Smullen brought him down the outside to tackle favourite Ruler Of France in the final furlong and the 2-1 shot responded to the jockey's urgings to edge in front 50 yards out for a half-length victory.

Weld looked to have found a fine opportunity for Cocktail Hour in the www.listowelraces.ie Median Auction Maiden after several placed efforts, but it was market rival Lady Giselle who grabbed the chance.

Gary Carroll soon had John Walsh's 6-4 shot bowling along in front and Cocktail Hour, sent off the 11-8 favourite, could not reel her in down the straight, eventually coming home five lengths in arrears.

Aidan O'Brien sights were lowered considerably after Ruler Of The World's Derby heroics, but the odds-on Marchese Marconi could not keep up the good work in the Croome House Stud Handicap as he was brushed aside by Declan McDonogh on John Bleahen's Fleur De Nuit (4-1), who won by two and a half lengths.

Billy Lee had Denis Hogan's well-backed Empresario (8-1) in the first two all the way in the Jackie & Gene Handicap and nailed Wholelotofrosie close home to win by a neck, with Edenshaw a fast-closing third.

First-time blinkers did the trick for the Ger O'Leary-trained Busalla (6-1), who led all the way under Shane Foley in the St John's Literary Handicap and ran on with determination to hold Killourney Empress by a short head.

Jane Mangan, winner of a ladies race at Tramore on Saturday, notched another victory when Abou Ben (4-1) burst into the lead over half a mile out and ran on strongly to win the Bryan McMahon (QR) Race by three-quarters of a length for Andrew Oliver.