CALLWAY PRO AM @ STUD LEGER ACTION TO HEAT UP AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

After a strong start to the Callaway Pro Am @ Stud Irish St. Leger last Saturday night at Limerick, the second round action continues later tonight with four mouth-watering heats.

Of the four heats on offer, the eye is immediately drawn to the curtain-raiser as no fewer than four opening round heat winners lock horns, as well as the two-time defending champ Clonbrien Treaty thrown in for good measure.

After a four month absence from the track, Clonbrien Treaty made his reappearance last weekend and while he may have failed to make it a winning return, James and Muireann Murphy’s blue could hardly have been more impressive as he went down by just one and a half lengths to Blastoff Heffo in 29.78. On that occasion, the son of Pestana showed all of his explosive early speed to leave his rivals for dust and it should be expected that he would run out of steam late on. That said, he will without doubt strip fitter for that outing and he remains a huge player despite facing some formidable opponents tonight. The likely favourite in the contest is Toolmaker Josepe, who posted the fastest time of the opening round when clocking 29.68 from off-the-pace. Robert Gleeson’s tracker has an unbelievable engine from the halfway mark, however, he will still need the gaps to appear given he is likely to sit closer to the rear than the front early doors. Indeed, sandwiched between both Clonbrien Treaty and Toolmaker Josepe are two exceptional greyhounds in the form of Daleroad Duke and Ballyhimikin Ben. The former was a trap-to-line winner for Pat Guilfoyle last time out as he justified 1/2 billing and he will fancy his chances of making it back-to-back wins as sectionals suggest he will dispute early on. Meanwhile, Ballyhimikin Ben showed all of his battling qualities when making it five wins from just nine starts last weekend and he too cannot be dismissed. Of the others, Tinahue Pappone has buckets of early speed and has a plumb draw in red, while Blastoff Cooper held off the strong-running Cagey Billy last time out and is far from an ‘also-ran’ in this contest. In summary, this is a heat fitting of a final and the nod goes the way of Daleroad Duke to reel in Clonbrien Treaty late on.

HARVEY TO BUILD ON FIRST ROUND WIN

Faypoint Harvey was a smart winner of his opening round assignment as he made every yard to clock 29.81 and he can get first run on his rivals in heat two.

An extremely consistent son of Droopys Sydney, Faypoint Harvey made it fourteen wins from thirty-seven starts last time out and in doing so, he posted a rapid 2.85 sectional to lead. Drawn in three this time around, Graham Holland’s runner knows how to win and while Blastoff Heffo poses a big threat in two, ‘Harvey’ is selected to get the job done once again. The aforementioned Blastoff Heffo is the obvious threat for Philip Buckley in two. He reeled in Clonbrien Treaty in the opening round as he posted 29.78 and, on that basis, he is the one to beat in this contest. However, he faces a different type of challenge this time around and while he should make the frame, he may have to settle for second on this occasion. Another expected to make the qualifying position is Magical Sapphire in trap six. Another hailing from the Pat Guilfoyle kennel, the strapping fawn was unlucky when baulked in the opening round, eventually chasing home the powerful Toolmaker Josepe in second. A strong-running performer, the daughter of Grangeview Ten has a fine record and could be the dark horse in this line-up as she aims to go one better than seven days prior. Of the others, Aherla Rocco has plenty on his plate in order to enter calculations in one, while both Drombeg Jet and Toolate Tomorrow will require career-best efforts to book a spot in semis.

DIEGO CAN WIN A WIDE-OPEN HEAT THREE

Heat three is all about the stamina set and Hello Diego looks the one to beat after he posted an impressive 29.81 in the opening round for Paul Hennessy.

On that occasion, Hello Diego had In Good Time to overcome, who is very strong in his right, and he did so with relative ease in winning by an extending half-length. Drawn in six this time around, Paul Hynes’ runner is without doubt the most powerful runner in this line-up and he could well race a little closer to the pace given the lack of early speed in the contest. Should this be the case, the son of Jaytee Yankee should make it back-to-back wins on a track that is tailor-made for this type of runner. The likely leader in this contest is Evan McAuliffe’s Drombeg Banner in four. The son of Explosive Boy clocked a 2.81 sectional on that occasion before being reeled in by Swithins Jim, however, he is normally a stronger stayer so he could strip much fitter for the run this time around. The aforementioned Swithins Jim again reopposes in trap one for Peter Cronin. Indeed, he was mighty impressive as he came from off-the-pace to clock 29.90 and he is likely to take several steps forward for his first outing at Limerick. Hailing from a very respected kennel, ‘Jim’ has all the tools to go deep into this Classic and don’t be surprised if he makes it back-to-back wins from a plumb draw in red. Of the others, Flight Club will be powering home, however, much race prominently in order to deliver his late flurry, while the same can be said of Bartlemy Mainoo, who ran a brilliant race in defeat to Ballyhimikin Ben last weekend. Ventry Faith, meanwhile, gave Faypoint Harvey plenty to think about last weekend and he is another who is more than capable of staking a claim. A wide-open heat, the vote just goes to Hello Diego to see off Swithins Jim.

KOURNIKOVA TO SERVE UP AN ACE

Opinions are sure to be split in the concluding heat of the night, however, the verdict goes to the well-drawn Kournikova in trap one.

The Pat Buckley-trained blue made a brilliant recovery to finish third in round one after walking from traps and suffering a heavy bump at the opener. As a result, she sat a bad last down the back before showing brilliant battling qualities to come through and seal third place. That in mind, she has the draw to turn much closer this time around and that could be enough to see off some powerful rivals. Of those rivals, Droopys Deploy is the likely favourite in the race. Trained by Robert Gleeson, the son of Malachi also caught the eye in defeat behind kennel companion Toolmaker Josepe last weekend and he is unlikely to break as poorly this time around in trap four. If trapping on terms, Paul Allen’s charge won’t be too far away. Of the remainder, Cagey Billy and In Good Time are super trackers out wide and will be finishing at speed in their bid to make the frame. Cagey Billy, in particular, is running out of his skin at present and gets the nod to progress, while both Flyers Minnie and Bockos Sapphire have the ability to rough a few feathers, however, they can ill-afford any slip-ups in what is a red-hot contest.