Friday is Ladies Day at the Listowel races and up to 30,000 punters are expected through the gates at the north Kerry racecourse. Former Miss World Rosanna Davidson, and award-winning fashion designer Heidi Higgins are the judges for the 2024 McElligotts Kia Best Dressed Lady with the overall winner's prize a trip to New York. A party atmosphere is expected and the weather forecast is for mainly dry conditions.
It might be Ladies Day off the track but on the course but it's MAN O WORK (2.40) that can be the hero of the hour in the featured €100,000 MCG Handicap Hurdle for the second year in succession. Paul Fahey's six-year-old was a snug winner of this race 12 months ago under Cian Cullinan and the trio can strike again on a day when the Kerry venue will be packed.
He ran a real eye-catching race on the flat at Killarney last time out and is only 6lbs higher than 12 months ago. IT'SALLABOUTEVE (3.15) is a locally owned eight-year-old that has a strong each-way chance in the Southampton Goodwill Plate Handicap Hurdle.
She's a strong travelling filly that was second here at the June meeting before winning over fences at Tipperary in July. She's a half-sister to Cheltenham Festival winner Balthazar King and jockey Cal Shine takes off a valuable 7lbs from her task. The ground drying out would enhance her chances.
The opening maiden hurdle is an interesting race where IRISH PANTHER (2.05) is a horse that wouldn't be winning out of turn. He's been remarkably placed in all six of.