Mac in tune at Listowel

Frankendael and Daniel King win the 2m listed handicap hurdle at Listowel for Rathkeale trainer Eric McNamara. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post.

COURTESY of a superb five-timer (which included a 159/1 treble on Friday), Eric McNamara was the trainer-in-form at Listowelโ€™s Harvest Racing Festival.

The Rathkeale handler was first in the winnersโ€™ enclosure with Donkey Years, successful in the Devon Inn Dan Sheehan Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

The 17/2 shot, who was ridden by Mark Walsh, is the property of JP McManus of Martinstown.

โ€œItโ€™s great to have a winner in those colours,โ€ commented McNamara to irishracing.com. โ€œIโ€™d like to have one crack at the Munster National (October 20, Limerick) with him.โ€

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Next, with teenager Calum Hogan in the saddle, he scored with Ifitwasme (10/1) – for the Wilmot family – in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

McNamaraโ€™s big festival winner came in the featured ะ„100,000 MCG Handicap Listed Hurdle Race with Frankendael, under an impressive ride from Daniel King.

โ€œThat was magic and he is a lovely, lovely horse who has improved all the time since we got him,โ€ said the trainer, who also praised its syndicate owners headed-up by Vincent Casey.

The winner was returned at generous odds of 9/1.

Another winner for the in-form McNamara was the Seรกn Flanagan-ridden Mount Ferns (3/1) in a 2m handicap hurdle.

Finally, Seรกn Curran-owned Cahirdown Boy (3/1) won the Paud Fitzmaurice Memorial Handicap Steeplechase. He too was ridden by Flanagan.

Seรกn and Eric are great friends and famously won back-to-back Kerry Nationals with Ponmeoath in 2007/โ€™08.

โ€œThe horses are in great form. We obviously aim for Listowel and it has been an unbelievable few days,โ€ McNamara said.

For good measure, Athea trainer Eoin McCarthy topped-off a memorable festival for Limerick with a whopping 250/1 winner with the aptly named Kingdom Calling.

And, back to McNamara he registered another double at Down Royal on Monday of this week.

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