'Ryan will add razzmatazz to our Tuesday card' - excitement builds for Moore's first visit to Listowel

Pat Healy, the popular photographer and director at Listowel, said Ryan Moore's maiden voyage to the track on Tuesday would add some "razzmatazz" to day three of the track's harvest festival. 

Moore made his first visit to Punchestown a winning one last week when Genealogy landed the mile maiden and Healy is hoping he can do likewise at Listowel, where a victory would give the seven-day shindig some international coverage. 

Healy said: "We're really looking forward to the week ahead and we're in a good place. It's magic to get Ryan to come to Listowel for the first time. Here in Ireland for some of the Flat days you need to add a bit of razzmatazz and Ryan does that for us on Tuesday. 

"When they hear he's coming to Listowel and going to ride, it will prick their ears and make them want to come. Ryan needs no introduction whatsoever. He's the world's best jockey and having him at Listowel broadens the brand of our harvest festival to international levels. 

"If Ryan happens to ride a winner here on Tuesday, they will be writing about it in Japan and Hong Hong and it will bring more eyes and ears on Listowel, and that's what we want."

Healy is hoping for a crowd of around 28,000 for ladies' day on Friday if the weather plays ball. 

He said: "We're on a par with last year with regard to advance sales and the accommodation office is flat out with people looking to come and stay. If things go for us and the weather is kind, we could have 28,000 for ladies' day, and that's always a wonderful occasion, one not to be missed."

Desertmore House: could bid for a repeat win in the Guinness Kerry NationalCredit: Patrick McCann

The feature event of the harvest festival is the Grade 3 Guinness Kerry National on Wednesday, won last year by Desertmore House, and the Martin Brassil-trained nine year-old is among the 31 entries again. 

There are some big names in there and none bigger than Flooring Porter, dual Stayers' Hurdle winner at the Cheltenham Festival, who could bid to bag his biggest success over fences for Gavin Cromwell. 

Cromwell could also run Perceval Legallois, who was 7-2 favourite for the Galway Plate but could finish only eighth to Pinkerton. 

Another notable entry is the Patrick Neville-trained The Real Whacker. He lowered the colours of Gerri Colombe in the 2023 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham, but has dropped to a mark of 155 for this race.

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