McCoy and Mangan set to renew rivalry at Listowel

RACING: THE LAST time Tony McCoy and Paddy Mangan fought out a close finish there was plenty of fall-out due to the “The Real…

RACING:THE LAST time Tony McCoy and Paddy Mangan fought out a close finish there was plenty of fall-out due to the "The Real Article" controversy at Tipperary in July and the two jockeys could dominate today's Listowel festival feature too.

British champion jockey McCoy travels to Kerry for three JP McManus rides, including Louisville Lip in the €45,000 Lartigue Hurdle.

The Pat Flynn-trained horse comes here on the back of a good run on the flat at Galway a few weeks ago but one of Louisville Lip’s big rivals is likely to be Mangan’s mount Much Acclaimed who won at the Curragh just on Saturday.

Much Acclaimed’s sole start over hurdles to date came at Ballinrobe in July when beating one of today’s opponents In A Nutshell. But he has been in fine form on the flat since and Mangan takes a valuable claim off.

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Louisville Lip could have a crucial edge, though, as he has winning form on testing conditions and has always been held in high regard by his trainer.

McCoy can also land the handicap chase on Enda Bolger’s Pocket Reader but Ruby Walsh’s Capisci could deny him the concluding maiden hurdle.

Aidan O’Brien should have the winning of both juvenile races with Fort Sam Houston and Athens, who ran into a potentially top-class prospect in Akeed Mofeed at Leopardstown last time.

Owners could make hay with Cape Blanco

FAME AND Glory may have been a flop in last weekend’s Irish Leger but owners Jim and Fitri Hay could soon get more American compensation with Cape Blanco in New York, writes Brian O’Connor.

The Grade One Joe Hirsch Memorial Turf Classic at Belmont Park at the start of next month is being considered for the four-time Group/Grade One winner, who has dominated America’s top turf races during the summer. After landing the Man O’War Stakes at Belmont, Cape Blanco followed up under Jamie Spencer in the Arlington Million last month.

That race was over 10 furlongs while the Joe Hirsch, a Grade One event currently being considered by trainer Aidan O’Brien, is over a mile and a half.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column