Bolger advises watching brief as Grade 1 star Yanworth makes Irish debut

Ladbrokes Ireland Listowel Handicap Hurdle | 5yo+| 2m | RTV

Yanworth makes his Irish debut under top weight in this Listowel feature in which trainer Enda Bolger is also represented by Ballyoisin, who landed last year's prize under Thursday's rider Darragh O'Keeffe.

A dual winner at Grade 1 level for Alan King during the 2016-2017 season, Yanworth will be running in a handicap for the first time, while Ballyoisin, a seven-time winner over fences, is reverting to hurdles having landed a chase at Killarney on his most recent start last month.

Bolger said: "Yanworth will be having his first run for me and hasn't run since March. It's been hard to find suitable races for him because of his high rating and we picked this one to get him started.

"Ballyoisin won the race last year and came out of his recent chase win at Killarney very well. This race has been the plan and although he's higher in the ratings this year, he's in great nick and we're expecting a big run."

Galway clues

Eight of the 14 runners ran in the Galway Hurdle last month, when the John Joe Walsh-trained Davids Charm, a winner since on the Flat at Killarney, fared best in fourth.

John Joe Walsh, trainer of Davids Charm, said: "He's in good order. He ran well in the Galway Hurdle before winning on the Flat at Killarney last month and with a bit of luck he's capable of going very close."

Hearts Are Trumps was sixth at Galway and trainer Des McDonogh said: "He's in good order and ran well in the Galway Hurdle last time when he didn't have the clearest of runs and was probably a bit unlucky not to have finished closer."

Gavin Cromwell, who trains Ejayteekay (12th) and Ming Dynasty (13th), said: "Ejayteekay fell at the first at Killarney last time. That was out of character for her, but she was fine afterwards and I think she has an each-way chance. Ming Dynasty is fresh and well after a break and could be thereabouts."

Davids Charm: ran well in the Galway Hurdle before winning on the Flat at Killarney last monthCredit: Patrick McCann

Chosen Mate heads Elliott team

Chosen Mate, a Grade 2 winner as a novice last season, lost all chance when making his handicap debut in the Galway Hurdle when badly hampered at the halfway stage before being pulled up.

Elliott, who also runs Tombstone and Star Maker, said: "Chosen Mate was unlucky in the Galway Hurdle when he was almost brought down at halfway before being pulled up. He's in good form but wouldn't want much rain. Star Maker should have a good each-way chance, while Tombstone lacks consistency so is difficult to predict."

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