Listowel hosts another day of Flat action and while Saratoga has been a touch disappointing thus far, he can get off the mark on his handicap debut in the finale, the Jet, Peggy & Eamonn O’Carroll Memorial Handicap.

Aidan O’Brien’s colt was off for a long time after a promising two-year-old debut in Killarney and fared well on his return, finishing runner-up to Slaney Drive. On the back of that he was sent off the even-money favourite – though he was weak in the betting close to the off – for a Navan maiden. Able to dictate, he held every chance but was picked off late and had to settle for third place.

He steps up to two 14 furlongs this time and with the softer ground likely to help the son of Camelot, he can get off the mark off what is a most appealing mark of just 80.

The danger is likely to come from Bryant, who was most impressive on his first start for Adrian Murray. Also a nice prospect, he is thoroughly unexposed and must be given maximum respect.

Bellamano deserves a winning turn and can get it in the Mac Hardware & Farm Supplies Irish EBF Rated Race. After showing promise with a fifth-place finish on debut in a Leopardstown maiden, Johnny Murtagh’s filly finished runner-up in Killarney, Galway and on nursery debut back in Killarney.

She re-opposes Extravagant, who proved a length and a half too good for her on that most recent outing, but there are reasons to believe she can turn around the form. Better off at the weights, back on softer ground, and with a good draw from which to operate, she can finally get her head in front.

In a good race in which it is difficult to rule any of the runners out with great confidence, Limestone can give her most to think about.

The feature on the card is the listed Edmund & Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes, and it is a fiendishly difficult race to solve. However, there has been enough in Soft Winds’ runs to date for Joseph O’Brien to believe that she can put a first Irish win on her card.

Well drawn and likely to be sent forward from the outset, she will appreciate the testing conditions and can fend off all of her rivals.

Norwalk Havoc rates a danger. Jesica Harrington’s gelding has been well beaten on both starts to date this season, but last season’s form reads well in the context of this race and that listed race success on heavy ground at Leopardstown suggests today’s conditions will result in a return to top form.

LISTOWEL 

Tommy Lyons 

2:20 Straight Up 

2:50 Liamo 

3:20 Mathan 

3:50 Soft Winds 

4:20 Bellamano (nb) 

4:50 Goal Exceeded 

5:22 Saratoga (nap) 

Next best 

2:20 Perisher 

2:50 Shuyak 

3:20 Ramiro 

3:50 Norwalk Havoc 

4:20 Limestone 

4:50 Secret Magician 

5:22 BryantÂ