WILLWEGO.COM IRISH ST. LEGER SET FOR THRILLING CONCLUSION

Peter Farrell

After four weeks of the most thrilling canine action, the final of the €30,000 Willwego.com Irish St. Leger concludes at Limerick Greyhound Stadium tonight and it promises to be a night to remember.

It certainly is the most stacked final line-up in recent memory and all eyes will be on the past two Con & Annie Kirby winners, Swords Rex and Clonbrien Treaty. Indeed, both are battling for favouritism as we speak, however, it was the latter who got one over on his kennel companion last time out when outpacing his rival down the back. That said, one week is an awful long time in greyhound racing and Swords Rex remains a live threat to reverse that form.

This is far from a two-dog affair, however; throw into the mix the likes of former Derby Plate winner, Mr Chelm, the hugely talented Sober Glory, one of the most valuable bitches in the land, Ballinabola Una, and the electric early pacer Beepers Lariat; and this decider certainly has all the ingredients of a thoroughly mouth-watering contest.

A LOOK AT THE FINALISTS

T1 - BALLINABOLA UNA : (Owner - Grainne Murphy / Aoibheann O’Leary : Trainer - Pat Buckley)This youngster of the line-up still retains her puppy status as a December whelp. The daughter of Burgess Bucks showed her hand early on with two electric qualifying efforts, which included a 28.92 effort Enniscorthy, but she really came to prominence in the John Whelan Memorial Cup at Limerick. Winning the opening three rounds in outstanding fashion, including a 28.37 return in the semis, she was turned over in the final, however, it was simply a stepping stone to much bigger things. A half sister to the star that is Ballinabola Ed, she will be real force in the New Year when fully matured, however she is certainly capable of having a massive say in tonight’s decider also. A 29.50 winner on night one, she has a plumb draw in red and her strong running style will have her rivals all looking over their shoulder from halfway.

T2 - SOBER GLORY: (Owner - Sean Malone : Trainer - Karol Ramsbottom)A member of an outstanding litter which also includes the likes of Ryhope Beach and Blackstone Lacey, this striking black boasts a massive engine. A winner of a novice stake at Kilkenny early on in his career, the son of Droopys Sydney followed that up by going three rounds deep in this year’s Kirby. A trip to Clonmel soon followed and after clocking 28.20 around the Suirside venue, he was eliminated at the semi final stages at odds of 2/5. Since that, he firmly established himself as one the best in training with a win on Derby Final night and a subsequent incredible 28.37 effort around Kilkenny in a preparation trial for the Leger. The fastest of the semi final winners when posting 29.40 off the front, Sober Glory is a real player tonight, however, much will depend on whether he can get first run on Swords Rex early on.

T3 - SWORDS REX: (Owner - Barbara Lowndes : Trainer - Graham Holland) There are not enough superlatives in the dictionary for this fabulous son of Droopys Sydney. An incredible winner of twenty-seven races thus far, he shot to prominence when landing the prestigious Rural Kennels Unraced at Clonmel. In said stake, he posted 28.01 in just his third race and it was all systems go from there. A brilliant winner of the 2022 running of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial, he also landed the Easter Cup earlier this year and posted one of the fastest times ever for the 525-yard trip at Shelbourne Park, this being 27.79. Indeed, ‘Rex’ has dipped under the 28-second barrier no fewer than four times and also holds the mantle of the fastest in this year’s Leger with his near-record run of 29.27 in round two. After going through the English Derby unbeaten, he was turned over in the decider by his kennel companion, Gaytime Nemo, so in that respect he will hope that lightning doesn’t strike twice and make no mistake, he remains a huge player despite an uncharacteristic performance in the semis when reeled in.

T4 - BEEPERS LARIAT : (Owner - Leonard O’Hanlon : Trainer - Jack Kennelly) Another hailing from a top-class litter which includes the recent Bar One Irish Laurels winner, High Trend, this June whelp has bags of ability and has been brilliant throughout the Leger. After posting a slick 28.50 in his first outing in the Juvenile Classic at Tralee, ‘Lariat’ ventured to Limerick for the Kirby and performed very well, winning his first two rounds before an unfortunate exit in round three. A tilt at the English Derby came next and he again showed his class when winning two rounds of the Blue Riband event, while posting a rapid 29.22 for the 500m in the process. Despite not managing to raise a flag thus far in the Leger, this greyhound has caught the eye in numerous rounds with some excellent displays in defeat and he is certainly not classified as an ‘also-ran’ tonight. Capable of doing it from the front or from off-the-pace, he will require a career best effort, however, he has already shown he can produce on the big stage.

T5 - MR CHELM : (Owner - Lee Michael Harris : Trainer - Peter Cronin) The artist formerly known as Kildare, he received a baptism of fire when given his first career start in the opening round of the 2022 Kirby. That alone, was a sign of how highly thought of this greyhound was and he subsequently went on to finish third in the Classic decider behind none other than Swords Rex. It was straight to Towscester after that for a tilt at the English Derby and he continued to showcase his huge ability when finishing just one and three parts of a length adrift of Romeo Magico in the decider. A return to Irish soil saw the son of Droopys Sydney go unbeaten through the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate at Shelbourne and from there, he was subsequently sold to the UK. After losing his way slightly thereafter, he returned to Ireland and indeed the Irish Derby when re-establishing his very best form to go four rounds deep and recording 29.21 in the process. He has since carried that form into the Limerick feature and he too holds strong claims from what is a favourable draw in five. A fast start is required; however, should he get on the bunny, it will be a case of catch me if you can.

T6 - CLONBRIEN TREATY : (Owner - James & Muireann Murphy : Trainer - Graham Holland) Like kennel companion, Swords Rex, the son of Pestana is searching for an historic double of landing the Con & Annie Kirby and the Irish St. Leger. An absolute flying machine, this blue has stunning early speed but like most Pestana offspring, it took a few starts in order for it to be unleashed. Indeed, he went under the radar in the Kirby until the third round where he pulverized a top-class field, which included the likes of Beepers Lariat and Romeo Hanzo, to record 28.31. A 28.15 followed in the semi finals and he then went on to a procession win in the showpiece event, drawing clear to win by over eight lengths in 28.08. A trip to the Produce Stakes was next for ‘Treaty’ but although posting 27.99 in the Classic, he never really got to grips with the Clonmel circuit and the same can be said of his outings thus far at Shelbourne Park. However, his return to Limerick has ignited the fire and he has really taken off in recent weeks, particularly when zooming past Swords Rex to score just seven days ago. Perfectly housed, he is many people's choice of a likely winner, however, he can ill-afford any slip-ups at traprise.

VERDICT - A terrific decider which is certain to divide opinion. Clonbrien Treaty is certainly coming into this final in peak form and given his performance last weekend, he will take plenty of beating. His stunning early pace can almost compensate for some tardy starts at times and given his status as the sole wide seed, he will likely start as a justifiable favourite. However, as mentioned, one week is a very long time in greyhound racing and SWORDS REX gets the nod to reverse the form with his kennel companion. Drawn in white, where I feel he is at his best, expect him to explode from traps and dictate to the bend. If doing so, on a track which will be in pristine condition, ‘Rex’ can make every yard.

CON MURPHY BOOKMAKERS A1

On what is a top-class supporting card, the final of the Con Murphy Bookmakers A1 525 offers a €3,000 winner’s prize and Drombeg Ten is impossible to oppose based on two flawless performances in the stake thus far.

Clearly at his very best around Limerick, Drombeg Ten is a former Leger semi finalist and outlined just how that came about with two exemplary displays over the past couple of weeks. Evan McAuliffe’s brilliant fawn is certainly back to his very best and his 28.45 latest clock suggests he will take all the beating in this valuable decider. Indeed, his opening sectionals of 1.25 and 1.28 will see him dictate once again if reproducing and he is perfectly drawn in trap three to do so. Of his rivals, Rougarou is his nearest rival on the clock and the Declan Beary-trained son of Vic Vega is once again selected to give him the most to think about from trap six.

ALF TO CONTINUE SPRINT RECORD

Ballinakil Alf is now firmly established as one of the best speedsters in the land and he can build on that reputation in the Open Sprint.

Graham Holland’s runner has won his last three sprints in scintillating fashion and he has a plum draw in trap four to ping out and make-all. That said, this is arguably his toughest test to date in terms of fellow sprinters at the top of their game at present. Burgess Jack was the last greyhound to hand defeat to Ballinakill Alf, while Road Exile can never be discounted given he has comfortably dipped under 21-seconds at Dundalk, which are figures rarely seen.

BOBSLEIGH TO BOUNCE BACK

Bobsleigh Dream made her exit from the St. Leger last weekend when narrowly missing out on a qualification spot, however, she can bounce back in the Open Bitch race.

Trap draws are irrelevant to Bobsleigh Dream and, in truth, this a down-grade for Pat Buckley’s dual Classic winner. Expected to race more prominently this time around, the daughter of Droopys Sydney can finish with her usual wet sail to land victory. Of her rivals, Azurite clocked a blistering 28.19 in a trial at Limerick and still has scope for improvement as a December puppy, while Annual Coco is fresh off reaching the final of the Munster Juvenile Cup at Clonmel and can get involved.

EXPECT TEDDY TO GO FAST

The Open 600 is another mouth-watering contest and Bens Teddy gets the nod to build on an impressive win at Lifford last time out.

Coming from well off-the-pace against some brilliant trackers last time out, the 600-yards will play massively to the strengths of Bens Teddy and his trap one berth only adds to his chances. There doesn’t appear to be a lot of early speed in this contest so expect the son of Droopys Sydney to race close to the pace before overpowering his rivals late on. Of said rivals, Blackstone Lacey was paw-perfect in her last outing when winning in 29.57 for the 550-yards and will without doubt relish this trip, while Gaytime Hugo is another with massive claims despite a tricky draw in five.

SOGNA TO GO ONE BETTER

The last of the standout open races comes in race ten and Sogna In Grande gets the narrow vote for trainer Jack Kennelly.

A greyhound who perhaps doesn’t get the accolades it deserves, Sogna In Grande can match anything to the third turn and only for the blistering Blackstone Lacey last time out, he would have recorded a hugely impressive victory. Despite being against some top-class trackers on this occasion, he can lead around the outside and from there, it will be a case of catch me if you can. Likely to stake a real claim are the inside runners of Nomadic Nova and Grouchos Duke. Both in possession of big engines, the latter in particular may be a little race rusty for John Byrbe but don’t be surprised if he pops out to make-all.