2022 Listowel Kerry National Preview and Tip – DS
2022 Listowel Kerry National Tip
Our dismal spell ended in style on Saturday. Method (25s NAP), Blenheim Boy (16s) and Bernardo O’Reilly (25s) all placed. Barefoot Angel capped it off by winning at 25s (NB). Unfortunately, Pistoletto was only out for a spin. Sir Dancealot drifted to 66s but he ran a very nice race, despite only finishing 9th. He was only 4.5L behind the winner and 2.5L off a place. The Old Boy has a nice pot in him yet. Now, we switch to National Hunt action and the 2022 Listowel Kerry National. I like a 20/1 poke e/w, find out who we are backing below.
4.20 – 2022 Listowel Kerry National (Grade A)
You know the flat season is nearing its end when this race comes around. The Kerry National is worth 200k and as you would expect, it has attracted a stellar field of 18. Unusually, it isn’t Mullins or Elliott that have the most runners, this time Joseph O’Brien wins the number’s game. He supplies 1/3 of the field with six runners, with Willie providing two and Elliott just one. Those two train all three of the reserves though so they could yet have more contenders.
Smaller Operation
All that being said, I am going to take a chance on one from a smaller operation. Ronald Pump is trained in Kilmessan in Meath by Matty Smith. This son of Schiaparelli has been a fine servant to connections. He is still only a 9yo even though it feels like he has been around a lot longer. This fella has won just one chase but he has finished 2nd twice over fences and he is still relatively lightly raced over the bigger obstacles.
He was a top class hurdler a couple of years ago. His best run came in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2020 when he ran a massive race to chase home Lisnagar Oscar. In November later that year he gave Honeysuckle a big fright when finishing just 0.5L behind her over 20f at Fairyhouse. A good 3rd in the Irish Stayers’ at Punchestown followed and since the start of last season he has mixed hurdling and chasing.
Leinster National
His best handicap chase effort came in the Leinster National at Naas back in March (24.5f hvy). He found just Diol Ker too good, beat 0.5L off 147. In the Irish National he was in the process of running ok when falling off 152 but that extreme 29f trip may have stretched him. Smith freshened him up after that fall and he returned with an excellent effort when 7th in the Galway Plate (22f gd) behind Hewick off 150.
Things didn’t go smoothly in that race for Ronald Pump. He got badly hampered when our selection Exelerator Express was brought down and then when they were swinging for home, he had to come too wide. All things considered, he did well to stay on nicely for 7th. He was 14L behind the winner at the finish and only 4L off 5th so if he had enjoyed a smoother passage, perhaps he could have even finished in the first four.
Coleman Booked
After a couple of satisfactory spins in minor hurdles, he now goes for another big handicap chase and Smith has enlisted the services of Aidan Coleman. It is his only ride on the card and I doubt he’s coming over to just sample the famous Listowel hospitality. It will be his first ride for Smith, his first ride for these owners and also his first spin around Listowel.
The good to yielding ground should be A1 for him on the evidence of Galway, as should this extra two furlongs. He got 1lb back for his Galway Plate run so he is 9lbs better off with Hewick, 5lbs better off with Darasso and 4lbs better off with El Barra. Ronald Pump has a big handicap in him at some point, hopefully Wednesday is the day. At odds of 20/1, he is the each way selection.
