Listowel selection Wednesday 20th September
The Harvest Festival at Listowel reaches its feature contest on Wednesday as the Kerry National takes place on what is likely to be a wild and windy day. Gordon Elliott saddles seven of the eighteen runners and he provides my pick. Headline selection Poet Master was a winner for us on the final day at Doncaster on Sunday (advised 8/1).
Listowel 4.25: Salvador Ziggy
Despite coming into this race with only the minimum requirement of three chase runs behind him, SALVADOR ZIGGY has plenty of experience in big handicaps and looks the one to beat in the Kerry National.
He has won with any amount in hand in each of the three summer chases he has contested. It is not as if those wins have been soft races either. He beat a 137 rated chaser in Hubrisko at Punchestown – that rival winning by a wide margin at Killarney on his last start. He then beat much more experienced chasers at Tramore including the likes of Fighter Allen, again pulling comfortably clear.
On his final start he was made a narrow outsider, but was far too good for Toss Again at Killarney, also showing his ability to handle softer ground. That rival had won the Galway Blazers on his previous start with plenty to spare. Given the unsettled forecast that ability to handle slower ground might prove very important. He was second in testing conditions in the Pertemps at the Cheltenham Festival in March, and has the tactical pace to feature around this sharp track.
Recommended bet:
1pt each-way – Salvador Ziggy – 4.25 Listowel – 5/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)