Betting and controversy at new highs at Listowel

A new one-mile stretch of track down the backstretch at Listowel is aimed to be in place for the 1999 September festival at a cost of £50,000, but this year's six-day renewal followed the familiar routine.

Colossal betting, intensely competitive racing and a hint of controversy made up the usual Listowel cocktail.

The early controversy centred on the beaming of live pictures to betting shops, but the long-term effects of the Paddy Power Association of Irish Racecourses deal could not be gauged from its first week in Listowel.

Despite on-course bookmakers' initial fears, the betting figures were consistently up - £4,413,368 was wagered with the bookmakers for the week, with a whopping £1,085,357 bet on the Wednesday alone. That day also saw a Tote course record of £364,366, which contributed to a Tote total for the week of approximately £1.5 million.

On Saturday, the secretary of the Bookmakers Association, Francis Hyland, said: "The live pictures had no effect this week. If anything there may be a spin off in terms of bringing people to the big meetings. But it's the Clonmels and the Thurleses of this world who hold midweek meetings in bad weather that will suffer. The big meetings, like here and Galway, will become huge and the small meetings will become smaller."

Later, the controversy spotlight swung to the weigh room, where Richard Dunwoody got himself into hot water over the donation of a bottle of champagne to a stewards' secretary, Peter Matthews. Dunwoody later described the gesture as a joke but, unsurprisingly, the officials didn't get the punch line and referred him to the Turf Club.

For the almost 75,000 people who attended through the week, however, such incidents were incidental to what happened on the track.

The centrepiece, the £60,000 Guinness Kerry National, which is traditionally one of the most competitive races of the year, produced a remarkable performance from Dermot Weld's Treble Bob, who won by a distance.

The meeting also saw the unveiling of the exciting Promalee, who should make his presence felt in the top novice chases this winter and who helped contribute to Frances Crowley's position at the top of the trainers' table.

Co Sligo trainer Michael McElhone had just the one success, but Golden Fact's two-length win in the Kaliber Handicap on Saturday left some lucky punters happy as the the 14 to 1 shot paid almost 104 to 1 on the Tote.

"I didn't think he'd get through the soft ground but I'm happy he did," said McElhone, before outlining a long-term aim for the 1999 Punchestown festival.

As expected, To Your Honour won his hurdling debut in the Whelan Novices Hurdle, and the one length winner over Ithastobedone is sure to improve. "He's a lovely horse who has been back in only two months, and has had a good blow. He isn't really well galloped yet and there is plenty left in the tank. He'll go for all the good novice races," said trainer Francis Flood.

Ruby Walsh extended his lead at the top of the jockeys' table with a double on Call Bob and Triptodicks, bringing his total to 24.

Cheltenham Gold Cup winning jockey Andrew Thornton rode his first winner since returning from injury at Hereford last Monday when guiding Millcroft Riviera to victory in the Altro Floors Classic handicap Chase at Huntingdon yesterday.

Thornton, who rode Cool Dawn to victory in the Cheltenham showpiece, broke his left leg in a fall at Fontwell in May.