It’s Kerry National Day at Listowel on Wednesday, and we have a selection in each of the seven races on the card. Willie Mullins won the race last year with Spanish Harlem and looks to have a strong hand in the race once again this year.
Listowel Tips
- 13:55 Love Me Tender
- 14:30 Columbus
- 15:05 Blue Reed
- 15:40 Humble Brag
- 16:15 Ballygunner Castle
- 16:47 La Note Verte
- 17:22 New Grange
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13:55 2m Maiden Hurdle (4yo+)
An intriguing runner for the Closutton team in the opener on Kerry National day. LOVE ME TENDER was mentioned by Willie Mullins as one of the main contenders ahead of the Ebor at York and was backed from double figures the week before the race into 7/2f and slightly disappointed finishing tenth. Formerly trained by Peter Schiergen he was fourth at Chantilly on his flat debut in October 2025 and could be above average if he takes to the new discipline.
Selection: Love Me Tender
14:30 2m Novice Hurdle (4yo+)
It could be a quick double on the card for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins as they combine with COLUMBUS in the novice hurdle. A maiden hurdle winner at Galway by seven and a half lengths he ran on the level at York last time and was disappointing. He has been given a little over a month to get over those exertions and a return to the Galway form should be more than enough.
Selection: Columbus
15:05 2m. 2f. 135yds. Handicap Hurdle (4yo+)
While he has only won once from twenty-six starts over hurdles BLUE REED has run some very consistent races of late, second at Kilbeggan on the 8th of August, third at Kilbeggan on the 21st of August and second at Kilbeggan on the 3rd of September. The handicap mark has crept up a little from 92 to 98, but another consistent run would see him in the frame once again.
Selection: Blue Reed
15:40 3m Handicap Hurdle (4yo+)
Donal Hassett and Conor Stone-Walsh team up with HUMBLE BRAG who has been off the track for 136 days since victory at Cork last time out. He won off a mark of 95 there and stayed on well for victory suggesting there could be more to come. He will have a very light weight of ten stone on his back and ground; track and trip should be ideal.
Selection: Humble Brag
16:15 2m. 7f. 180yds Guinness Kerry National Handicap Steeplechase (Grade 3) (4yo+)
Willie Mullins has a strong hand in this years Kerry National and BALLYGUNNER CASTLE might be a forgotten horse in the hands of Danny Mullins. A two-time bumper winner and once over hurdles he could be of interest on return to better ground. He was fourth to stablemate Funiculi Funicula at Punchestown and then disappointed when last seen in the Galway Plate.
While his chase form has been mixed, he has always looked the type to excel over the larger obstacles. He will run off 137 here which is a pound lower than Galway and there is every chance you will see a better performance.
Selection: Ballygunner Castle
16:47 2m 3f Mares Novice Chase (4yo+)
LA NOTE VERTE was an impressive winner for the Willie Mullins team last time at Tramore in the hands of JJ Slevin and Paul Townend will get back aboard here. She is a two-time winner over hurdles from four starts and in three chase starts she hasn’t finished out of the frame with one victory and two places.
She won over 2m 6f last time and while she drops back three furlongs in trip here, she will likely adopt front running tactics.
Selection: La Note Verte
17:22 INH Flat Race (4yo+)
Patrick Mullins looks a very interesting jockey booking for the Tom Cooper trained NEW GRANGE. This gelding was an impressive winner of a P2P at Ballygogue House when winning by twenty-four lengths. Transferred from the Rob James team to Tom Cooper and in the colours Andrew Brooks there is every chance that he takes the step into bumper company in his stride.
The market will likely tell us plenty but he looks a interesting recruit.
Selection: New Grange
Listowel Tips
- 13:55 Love Me Tender
- 14:30 Columbus
- 15:05 Blue Reed
- 15:40 Humble Brag
- 16:15 Ballygunner Castle
- 16:47 La Note Verte
- 17:22 New Grange
