5.45 Listowel Railway Zira 5/1 I have been waiting a long time for Harry Kelly's 5 year old mare to make her hurdling debut and I think she is going to turn into a very smart performer for her small but excellent trainer. A winner of 2 of her 3 starts in bumpers to date, Railway Zira made an impressive winning debut at Killarney back in July 2012 when she overcame significant greeness to beat the very talented Klepht on her first visit to the racecourse as she asserted late on to score by half a length. Despite pulling in the early stages and looking a very raw talent, she showed a very game attitude to score for Pa King in a race that looks very strong form. The runner up Klepht, who had 3 P2P starts prior to this bumper, has developed into an extremely useful chaser winning a competitive handicap off a mark of 137 at the Punchestown Festival this year whilst there was a few more decent horses in behind in the shape of Waylander and Coolmill. For one reason or another Railway Zira was very disappointing when a tailed off last on her 2nd start at Galway last September but you can definitely put a line through that effort and she couldn't have been more impressive on her 3rd and final racecourse start when scoring by an emphatic 10L at Fairyhouse back in February under a penalty in a race that again has worked out well. Tracking the leaders on the inside rail throughout, Railway Zira took up the running under a strong drive inside the final couple of furlongs and she stretched away from her rivals when driven all the way to the line to score a really impressive success. The runner up Dante's Firth (clear of 3rd) hasn't been seen since but she showed some decent bumper form prior to that when winning at Thurles and finishing a clear 2nd behind Noel Meade's unbeaten Owen Mc. Additionally, the 4th home Vic Dancer won a bumper on her only start since and it was an excellent display from Railway Zira. Harry Kelly's Mare comes here on the back of a 223 day absence which isn't any concern as she goes really well fresh and I think it says an awful lot about how highly she is thought of by her small stable that she attempts to land this valuable nearly €15,000 price on her first start over timber as opposed to going for an easy Maiden Hurdle. Looking at the opposition, a few decent sorts line up in the shape of Tropical Three and Chiltern Hills who both bring very solid form over hurdles but they have to concede Railway Zira 5lb given they have been successful over timber before. I expect Harry Kelly to have Railway Zira extensively schooled and his other really promising Mare Que Pasa was successful on hurdling debut and I therefore have no concern about this 5 year old mare's readiness for this. I think its going to take a very, very decent rival to beat her today if she translates her bumper form to hurdling as I firmly believe that she will be a Black Type Madre in due course and think she could have a really big Novice Hurdling season in front of her. Davy Condon takes the ride and seems to be the stable's jump jockey of choice when available and this terrific small stable continue their excellent form with Que Pasa winning earlier this week. If jumping fluently and spot on for this, I think Railway Zira is going to take an awful lot of beating tonight and I fully expect her to land this contest. I think Railway Zira is potentially a very, very decent Mare.
16/1 2nd, 12/1 2nd, lets see if I can hit the bullseye with one last dart... 6:15 Listowel - Invincible Don 14/1
Railway Zire 100% needs further. Even from early on Davy Condon bounced her the odd time. I'll be incredibly keen if she's over 2m4f+ NTO as it was still a very nice introduction over hurdles.
That was brutal watching, terrible terrible stuff, 80-109 handicap hurdlers round a bad track on bad ground, the bad flat racing is at least bearable, the bad jump racing is just shocking. Slow slow animals, most of them cant even jump properly, wonder if some of them are even thoroughbreds.
How confident are you on this ones chances Stick? i see Court in Session is running in that race too....decent animal that one!
My two listowel horses just stopped running and lost 30 lengths almost instantly, strange. Ill leave that carry on to you jump boys until the real jumps start at the Greatwood meeting. Thinks its a disgrace that this jumping malarkey goes on all year, ive missed french group races because ATR has to show you some of the worst animals in existence running seemingly never ending races round some english dive.
fellas, I am confident that if the horse performs as well on the track as it is on the gallops at home then it will win. the only doubt is that they never won with him last season and were mightily perplexed as to why! Drever, if you keep putting up info and saying it's come from the yard then they soon stop telling you ;-) Having said that, I was at the yard on Saturday as it was Owners Day!
I get the picture I think Damn, looked at that race earlier and I have a real soft spot for Court In Session 20/1, although this is probably being used as a pipe opener for him.
