2:30 Listowel
The Seamus Mulvaney Bookmaker Novice Hurdle at Listowel brings together five runners over 2m on good ground. It features several high-class performers with recent winning form, though the KTB Fit scores suggest a relatively tight contest at the top with Bartholomew heading the numbers on 59, followed by Cosmos d'Ainay on 54 and Columbus on 49. With no course form on record for any of the field, the race will hinge on how the strong pace shape unfolds and which horses handle the demands best.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is strong with medium confidence, driven by two or more habitual front-runners. Cosmos d'Ainay and Columbus both tend to make the running or race prominently, which should ensure a genuine test early on that could cause the pace to collapse late. This setup is likely to favour hold-up horses, with Bartholomew, Golden Handshake and Beir Bua all usually producing their efforts from off the pace. The key question is whether the prominent pair can dictate matters or if the race will fall into the lap of one of the patient runners.
The KTB Fit ranking
-
1Bartholomew KTB Selection59/100
Bartholomew stands out as a high-class performer with strong recent form that includes a win and two placed efforts from his last three starts. He steps up in trip today having already won once at this distance from three attempts, and his held-up run-style looks ideally suited to the expected strong pace that could collapse late. The yard has a modest 5% strike rate at Listowel from 56 runs with an A/E of 0.55, while jockey Ricky Doyle is 1-34 here with a 3% strike rate and A/E of 0.41. Trainer and jockey combined are 17/146 (12%) with an A/E of 1.31 and +£19.13 LSP. He has had just one run on good ground without winning or placing, and he carries no flags.
-
2Cosmos d'Ainay54/100
Cosmos d'Ainay is another high-class performer with a strong recent record that includes two wins from his last three starts. He has won on this going and at today's trip, and his front-running style means he is set to play a key role in what is likely to be a strong pace. The yard has a solid 13% strike rate at Listowel from 325 runs with an A/E of 0.89, though the jockey's 11% strike rate from 90 rides here sits a touch below the yard average with an A/E of 0.72. Trainer and jockey combined are 650/3430 (19%) with an A/E of 0.88 and -£611.97 LSP. He has three wins from five runs on good ground with four places overall, and he carries no flags.
-
3Columbus49/100
Columbus arrives in decent form after a second last time out and brings solid recent efforts to the table. He has shown ability on good ground with a win and two places from four runs, while the drop back to 2m looks a fair enough question given his latest effort over almost identical distance. His front-running style will see him prominent in what is expected to be a strong pace. Mullins has a 19% strike rate at Listowel from 754 runs with an A/E of 0.85, and Townend is operating at 23% from 244 rides with an A/E of 0.92. Trainer and jockey combined are 1211/3905 (31%) with an A/E of 0.95 and -£341.64 LSP. He carries no flags.
-
4Golden Handshake48/100
Golden Handshake showed ability when winning on good ground over this trip last time having been unseated on his previous start. He drops back slightly in distance now from a lightly-raced profile that still leaves him with scope to improve, and his held-up run-style should suit the likely strong pace. The yard has an 8% strike rate here from 13 runs with an A/E of 0.57, while the jockey is operating at 11% from 38 rides at Listowel with an A/E of 0.74. Trainer and jockey combined are 8/41 (20%) with an A/E of 0.99 and +£17.04 LSP.
-
5Beir Bua48/100
Beir Bua arrives in form after a recent win and has already shown he can win at this trip. He handles the ground well with two wins from three runs on it, and his held-up run-style is in keeping with what should be a pace that could collapse late. The yard has a modest 4% strike rate at Listowel from 170 runs with an A/E of 0.44, and the jockey is 3% from 33 rides here with an A/E of 0.31. Trainer and jockey combined are 32/219 (15%) with an A/E of 0.97 and -£22.20 LSP.
KTB verdict
Bartholomew is the KTB Selection. He is a high-class performer with strong recent form including a win and two placed efforts from his last three starts, and his held-up style looks well suited to the strong pace that is likely to unfold. He has already won at this distance and the yard and jockey combination has shown profitability despite modest strike rates at Listowel. His main dangers are Cosmos d'Ainay, who brings two wins from his last three starts and has the going and trip in his favour while likely to set the pace, and Columbus, who is in decent form for a yard and jockey with strong Listowel records.
KTB Selection Bartholomew
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:07 UTC, 23 Sep. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Bartholomew | 13/8 | Bet365 |
| Cosmos d'Ainay | 11/1 | BetTom |
| Columbus | 6/5 | Bet365 |
| Golden Handshake | 13/2 | Midnite |
| Beir Bua | 18/1 | BetTom |
This is the narrative read of the 2:30 Listowel. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Listowel racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Listowel results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horses are likely to set the pace?
Cosmos d'Ainay and Columbus both tend to make the running or race on the pace.
Who is the KTB Selection?
Bartholomew.
How many wins has Cosmos d'Ainay had on good ground?
Three wins from five on good (4 placed).
What is Mullins's strike rate at Listowel in this race?
19% strike rate at Listowel from 754 runs with an A/E of 0.85.
Which runners are suited by the strong pace shape?
The hold-up horses Bartholomew, Golden Handshake and Beir Bua are favoured if the strong pace collapses late.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies