A WONDERUL NIGHT OF RACING ACTION AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake

Curraheen Park plays host to a wonderful 12-race card tonight which features the quarter finals of both the €30,000 to the winner Bar One Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels and the €10,000 to the winner Bart Leahy Memorial A2 stake taking centre stage.

Leading fancy for outright glory, the David Murray-trained Carrick Aldo faces his toughest test to date so far as he takes on Rathdown Molly in race 10. A winner of the recent Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk, Carrick Aldo has delivered two outstanding performances around Cork in recent weeks, clocking 28.15 and 28.19. He will need to be at his best to maintain his unbeaten record so one of his explosive starts will be needed. The classy performer gets a narrow vote over Rathdown Molly, who herself is another brilliant tracker. Drawn to perfection, next to the rails, the Marie Gilbert impressed with a stunning 28.12 winning performance last week and she should be right in the mix.

QUICKEST LAST WEEK
Quickest on the clock last week, Jacktavern Bolt will be expected to make it eight straight wins in race number nine.

Trained by Graham Holland for owners the Pillar Syndicate, the selection is no stranger to big performances around course and distance and he was in sensational form once again last week, clocking 27.99. Trap three is ideal and he can make every yard of the running once more.

WORTH ANOTHER CHANCE
Droopys Beglin, trained by John Linehan for Barry O'Driscoll, was turned over at short odds last week, but he's worth another chance in race eight.

It's another hot contest, but the selection has the early pace to lead and he may last it out this time around. Grouchos Vic is a rapidly improving sort and he impressed last time, beating Droopys Beglin, by three quarters of a length, in 28.33. Owned by David Carroll and Luke O'Connell, the lightly raced youngster has won his last two and he's improving all the time.

THE PICK IN THE CLOSING HEAT
Glengar Martha is the pick in the closing heat for the Pat Buckley team.

In superb form in recent times, she caught the eye two runs when winning in 28.13 and she backed that up with another big run last week, running a great second to Jacktavern Bolt, only beating half a length, in 27.99. The pacey lady can turn in a prominent position before proving too strong in the second half of the race.

BANKER MATERIAL
Miss Mini Holly is banker material in race six, heat three in the quarter finals of the Bart Leahy Memorial A2 stake.

Trained by Thomas O'Donovan, the September puppy set the standard last time, stopping the clock in 28.39 and another big winning performance is likely from the inside of the track.

Curraheen Park selections for Saturday, September 30.
Race 1: Ballymac Sputnik (Mother Jones)
Race 2: Footfield Peach (Cluain Creed)
Race 3: Ballymac Aggie (Droopys Iconic)
Race 4: Riverside Bocko (Priceless Opera)
Race 5: Acoustic Belle (Rafas Best)
Race 6: Miss Mini Holly (Nap) (Kyanite Kate)
Race 7: Ballinacarriga (Romeo Kingpin)
Race 8: Droopys Beglin (Grouchos Vic)
Race 9: Jacktavern Bolt (Rural Taylor)
Race 10: Carrick Aldo (Rathdown Molly)
Race 11: Glengar Martha (High Trend)
Race 12: Faypoint Jet (Millridge Levi)