Willie Mullins' latest hurdling star and Group 1 Flat winner clash in tantalising Wednesday contest

The Guinness Kerry National (4.23) is the feature race at Listowel on Wednesday but before that we are treated to a fascinating match-up between Davy Crockett and Sonnyboyliston in the Seamus Mulvaney Bookmaker Novice Hurdle (2.40). Here's all you need to know about the clash . . .

Who are they?

By Camelot and out of Champion Hurdle winner Annie Power, the Willie Mullins-trained Davy Crockett was backed into 1-2 favouritism for a Punchestown bumper on debut in June and justified the support with an impressive nine-length success.

The four-year-old was sent off at the same price for a novice hurdle at the following month's Galway festival – a race his half-brother and Grade 1 winner Mystical Power landed in 2023 – and again impressed with a comfortable victory under Mark Walsh.

Davy Crockett wins at the Galway festivalCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Sonnyboyliston was a six-time winner on the Flat for Johnny Murtagh, claiming the 2021 Ebor Handicap at York before following up a month later in the Group 1 Irish St Leger at the Curragh.

He was absent for 969 days before producing two modest Flat runs for new trainer Charles Byrnes, but put up an improved performance to make a winning hurdling debut at Listowel when last seen in May.

What they say

Willie Mullins, following Davy Crockett's win at Galway on July 28: "I thought his jumping was just brilliant. For a horse to go straight from a bumper into a novice hurdle and jump like that on his first try over hurdles was something else. He made that one mistake at the second-last, but the way he picked up after that left me in no doubt that he is a fast-improving horse and could be a proper one."

Willie Mullins: trainer of Davy CrockettCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Charles Byrnes, following Sonnyboyliston's win at Listowel on May 31: “He'd schooled very well at home and jumped great. We've no big expectations but hopefully he can keep progressing. He's had trouble with injuries and that's how I got him.”

Who else is in contention?

Davy Crockett's stablemate La Note Verte bids to bounce back from a disappointing sixth in a Listed novice hurdle at Galway last time. Before that run, the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned mare had impressed when scoring by 12 lengths at Roscommon and by five lengths on her hurdling debut in a maiden over this course and distance under Paul Townend in June.

Captain Ryan Matt has posted progressive Racing Post Ratings in his four hurdle starts to date, recording a figure of 121 when bolting up by nine lengths in a maiden at Tramore last month under Darragh O'Keeffe, who retains the partnership.

Gordon Elliott has won three of the last four runnings of this race and relies on Arch Empire this year. The son of Doctor Dino has made six hurdle starts, getting off the mark at the third attempt when claiming a Ballinrobe maiden in April. He put up some respectable performances in defeat on the Flat this summer but was bitterly disappointing when trailing home last of four at odds of 8-13 on his return to hurdles at Downpatrick last month.

Verdict

Willie Mullins' Davy Crockett, an unbeaten son of Annie Power, is a very promising prospect and should be able to maintain his unblemished record. The easy ground may not be ideal for his stablemate La Note Verte or Sonnyboyliston so Captain Ryan Matt could give the selection most to think about.
Dave Stephens