Horse of a lifetime Jesse Evans wins in Listowel for Tomas and Jack Singleton

Jesse Evans gave an exhibition of bold accurate jumping to land the featured €18,000 John Galvin Chase at Listowel on Monday afternoon.

Owner Tomas Singleton again reiterated his long head view that Jesse Evans is the horse of a lifetime.

Noel Meade's ultra consistent classy performer relished today's assertive tactics and produced arguably his best round of jumping since - switched to chasing. 

He was led into the winners enclosure by a jubilant Tomas Singleton and legendary Cork hurling star Mick Malone.

The winner was well supported in the ring too - backed from 5/2 into 7/4 favourite. 

Jessie Evans was 3/1 overnight and battled for favouritism with Eagle Fang who'd been backed overnight at 13/2 and went off at 15/8. 

Another Cork owned horse Blood Destiny was a huge market drifter from 4/5 last night out to 7/2 and touched 9/2 on the exchanges. 

He was still in with a chance when blundering badly at the last - although many including this observer felt that Jesse Evans had his measure. Jockey Sam Ewing confirmed that view - he was adamant he had Blood Destiny covered prior to that one's mistake at the last.

The winner came here after a slightly disappointing run at Killarney in a Grade 3 Chase earlier in the month having travelled widest of all. 

This victory was his eleventh career success and he's won connections over €470,000 in prize money. 

It's been well-documented that he has twice finished second in the Galway Hurdle. 

He got off the mark over fences at Galway in 2024 in the Galway City Beginners Chase. He ran a blinder in last year's Galway Plate finishing second to Western Fold - who won a Grade One Novice Chase at Punchestown in April. 

That's a measure of the company Jesse Evans has been mixing with. The Galway Plate has to figure on the agenda again in July - given his liking for the track. 

There would be no more popular winner of the Galway feature. Good ground is essential for Jesse Evans and there are lots of opportunities for him over fences,hurdles and on the flat through the summer.

Tomás Singleton acquired Jesse Evans on the recommendation of Maxine O'Sullivan who'd ridden him on debut at Ballinrobe and was suitably impressed despite his tendency to race freely that night.

There was an instant dividend for Tomas and his fellow owners as Jesse Evans landed a bumper next time at Listowel giving Mark O'Hare a winner on his final ride. 

Listowel has been kind to the Singletons - on this very day twelve months ago they landed a memorable double.

Bank Holiday Double courtesy of the Eugene O'Sullivan trained duo Bugs Moran, 10/3 and Themanintheanorak, 20/1.

Today's success confirmed Listowel as a happy hunting ground for the sporting Cork owners. Celebrations are expected to be in full flow in “Mick Malone's Sports Pub” in Blarney tonight.