RACING:GROUND conditions will be testing for day two of the Listowel Festival today but that shouldn't be too much of a problem for Hurricane Ridge in the featured €30,000 premier nursery, writes BRIAN O'CONNOR.

Listowel’s reputation for throwing up future high-class flat stars such as Alamshar in 2002 has been emphasised even more since then and by today’s nursery in particular. Alexander Goldrun finished runner-up to Faasel in 2003 before embarking on a multiple Group One-winning streak while last year Treasure Beach couldn’t overhaul Pirateer and famously landed the Derby at the Curragh in June.

Just seven line up today including Hurricane Ridge’s stable companion Lady Geronimo and French Quebec, who nosed out Saturday’s Curragh winner Madhmoomh at Killarney last month. Hurricane Ridge won his debut at the same Killarney Festival and Jessica Harrington’s runner is bred to operate on the soft conditions.

Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen run Swerve in the opening fillies maiden and a stall one draw could give this daughter of Oasis Dream an edge against Patrimonium who she was just ahead of on their Curragh debuts. The runner-up then, Pearl In The Sand, did the form no harm at the weekend.