Racing: Quartino gave Jessica Harrington and Barry Geraghty a valuable prize when running out a ready winner of the Guinness Handicap Hurdle, the feature race at Listowel.
The seven-year-old was with John Gosden in his younger days, but has been lightly-raced recently. However, the break appears to have done him the world of good as he came into the €50,000 race on the back of a victory at Bellewstown last month.
Given a masterful waiting ride by Geraghty, the 7-1 chance challenged the leaders at the second-last before drawing well clear. He idled on the run-in and was value for a good deal more than the length and a quarter margin over Sanglote suggests.
Harrington was absent but her assistant trainer Eamonn Leigh said: "Barry gave him a super ride, but he got lonely out in front and began to idle. Things have worked out well, he's improved a hell of lot since he won at Bellewstown the last day."
Arguably the most interesting race on the card was the first, the Southampton Goodwill Chase as it saw the return of Rathgar Beau. Dusty Sheehy's 12-year-old had been absent for 712 days and though he finished last of the three runners, his trainer was chuffed with his performance.
"I was pleased enough with the horse," said Sheehy. "He might run next in the National Lottery Chase at Gowran next month. But I won't run him on fast, he needs it soft.
"It would be great for the syndicate who own him (One-O-Eight Racing Club) if he could win a small race now he is back racing."
The race went the way of Tom Taaffe's Emotional Article who made all to beat Conna Castle.
The pair were 6-4 joint-favourites and Taaffe's wife Elaine said: "He jumped extremely well today. He deserved that because he has been knocking on the door a few times. He night run again in a couple of weeks at Navan."
Sheehy had better luck in the next race as Holly Tree (11-4) ran out a facile winner of the Helena Sheahan Memorial Novice Chase. Ruby Walsh took up the running half a mile out and coasted home 17 lengths clear of Clew Bay Lodge.
Sheehy said: "He possibly should have won the last day, and we changed tactics slightly here. He jumped brilliantly, but at home he doesn't want to know about jumping. Soft ground is big help. He's in again here tomorrow and will probably run."
Willie Austin's Conem (7-1) provided Walsh with a quick double in the Dawn Omega Milk Handicap. Austin is famed for breeding Danoli and said of his winner: "He's come down in the weights from last year and he's in handicap here on Saturday will possibly run again quickly."
Toomdeely (14-1) provided Patrick Neville with a welcome winner in the T.P. Walsh Memorial Handicap as he coasted home by 15 lengths.
"The horse ran a cracker over two miles at Cork the last day but he's an out-and-out stayer really and chasing is his game."