ALL EYES ON LIMERICK AS ST. LEGER ACTION CONTINUES
Peter Farrell
After thirteen fantastic opening round heats of the Willwego.com Irish St. Leger, the field has been cut to 48 runners and things are expected to heat up at Limerick Greyhound Stadium later tonight.
A number of greyhounds produced excellent opening round performances but it was Ballinabola Una who set the standard just ahead of reigning Kirby champ Clonbrien Treaty. As well as the thrills, there were also some spills as the likes of Bens Teddy made an early exit, while Swords Rex just about secured qualification after a poor start. The aforementioned tracker will kick-start round two in the opening heat of the night and he gets the vote to get back on track.
REX TO BOUNCE BACK
Swords Rex mistimed the start last weekend before meeting opening bend traffic, however, he ran a remarkable race thereafter just to qualify for Barbara Lowndes and Graham Holland. As a result, he takes his place in tonight’s second round and remains the one to beat despite some exceptional rivals. Drawn in red, this is where Swords Rex is at his best and the son of Droopys Sydney will be expected to trap much sharper this time around to make-all. Of his rivals, Another Holiday is the one likely to give the favourite most to think about. The Michael O’Donovan-trained runner was back to his very best last time out when clocking 29.59 and any repeat of that can see him get involved once again. He has a potentially tricky draw in trap four however, and will need to paw-perfect at the start. Others of interest in a red-hot opening heat are Disco Pants, who posted a sublime 29.59, while Sogna In Grande also caught the eye in defeat.
TREATY TO TAKE OFF
Clonbrien Treaty showed that he is well and truly focused on his quest for an historic Kirby/Leger double when romping to a 29.51 win in round one. That win sealed back-to-back victories, which is the first time he has done this since his Kirby exploits back in April. Drawn in six, Graham Holland’s blue looks cherry-ripe for this Classic and is certainly the selection to land heat five. Of his rivals, the likes of Ballinabola Una and Gaytime Hugo will look to stake a claim. The former went quickest in the opening round but will have to negotiate a tricky draw in four, while the latter ran a huge race to land his opening round heat after a poor start. The talented duo will hope to hang on to the coattails of Clonbrien Treaty early doors before delivering a big finish in the closing stages, but nonetheless both can also be confident of securing qualification into the quarter finals.
BOBSLEIGH CAN CONTINUE TO DREAM
Last year’s winner, Bobsleigh Dream, produced another astonishing performance last weekend as she came from last to first to win in exceptional style. Pat Buckley’s bitch clearly has a soft spot for the Limerick circuit and she will benefit from her opening round race, which was her first outing after some six weeks out. Drawn in trap two in heat eight, there isn’t an awful lot of early speed in this contest so she could conceivably lead, however, she cannot be dismissed from any position and is likely to make it back-to-back wins for Willie Joe Murphy. Of her rivals, Beepers Lariat would have claims if reproducing his best form, while Millridge Levi is another who can make the frame in trap four.
A LOOK AT THE HEATS
Heat 2 - Bobsleigh Syd posted a fine 2.78 early sectional on route to landing his opening round assignment in 29.74 and that would probably be enough to land heat two. The likes of Pennys Lynx, Boylesport Gift and indeed Garfiney Blaze will be coming home strongly, however, the bird may well have flown by that stage.
Heat 3 - This is a very strong contest but the vote goes to Trinity Junior, who is much better drawn this time around. Peter Cronin’s Champion Stakes winner never got involved last time out but expect a much sharper display this time around and he gets the nod to make every post a winner. Of his rivals, Clonroosk Sydney and Romeo Hanzo are big threats. The former was emphatic as he left Bockos Crystal standing last weekend on route to victory, while ‘Hanzo’ was a huge race in posting 29.69 behind Disco Pants.
Heat 4 - Sober Glory suffered a shock defeat in round one but after striking the rail early on, and shipping a bump at the penultimate turn, he ran a credible race to secure second spot. There is no doubt that Karol Ramsbottom’s charge is an exceptional talent given what he has shown in previous starts and he remains the one to beat from a suitable draw in trap three. Of his dangers, Ryhope Beach always warrants respect. Another of the Michael O’Donovan team, if he can get his trapping together he is a force, however, nonetheless he remains the main threat to Sober Glory given his incredible speed from the second turn. Others of interest are Hukum, who will be finishing with a flourish and last week’s shock winner, Miss Mini Holly, in trap one.
Heat 5 - One of the most well-supported trackers in the outright market was the Graham Holland-trained Nomadic Nova and it was hard not to be impressed as he demolished his rivals from the third bend home last time out. Drawn in trap five, he comes up against the likes of Deadly Jet and Mr. Chelm this time around, however, he has the tools to come out on top and Graham Ashe’s charge does look a massive player going forward.
Heat 6 - Arguably, the toughest of the eight heats to call. Bockos Crystal is likely to start favourite and there is little doubt that if Beverley Lochead’s bitch hits the front, she will land the spoils. However, she tends to need a couple of runs to get into the swing of things and, as a result, the slight nod goes to Music Glideaway in six. Pat Guilfoyle’s runner ran a satisfactory, if not spectacular race last weekend but is likely to step forward, while the likes of Ballymac Run, Annagh Bailey and Glengar Elvis all have strong claims of making the frame.