BOCKOS CAN STRIKE GOLD IN CURRAHEEN FEATURE

Barry Drake

The €3,500 to the winner David Fitzgibbion Memorial Open 525 final is the standout race at Curraheen Park tonight, and it promises to be a cracking decider.

Despite a tricky enough draw, in trap four, the Graham Holland-trained Bockos Gold is very much the one to beat. He brings the best form to the race, having run so well in reaching the final of the recent Con & Annie Kirby Memorial down in Limerick. He dipped under 28.10 on four occasions with two magical sub-28-second winning performances. He was a real eye catcher in defeat last week; however, he will need to reproduce one of his quickest starts to win tonight. In an open decider, he lands a narrow vote.

Montana Secret is still chasing a maiden success, but he has some big runs in defeat, and he's a real player along the inside of the track. Trained by Johnny Linehan for owners Barry and Martin O'Reilly. He was a two-length second to Ardfert Sam last week, but is capable of a better start, and from the rails pitch, he could well slip around in front. The red is a massive plus a big run is expected from this talented youngster.

Ardfert Sam, trained by Brendan Maunsell for owners Joe Nash and Kathleen Clifford, is improving with each run. A 28.21 winner last week, he will need another foot-perfect display from the outside to follow up. Droopys Croia, trained by Johnny Linehan for Sean Dunphy, clocked 28.34 from the rails pitch last week, but she could struggle to reproduce that from trap five this time around.

Of the others, Croydon Avenger, trained by Patrick Barrett for Michael Clark, is a youngster with a huge future. He lacks a bit of experience, but if he can come away racing, he will be a danger to all. Shutinthedark, trained by Kieran Lynch for Eoin Ivers and Fintan Lawlor, makes up the sextet. He's a powerful tracker, but lacks early and will need luck against some of these flying starters.

In the opener, Super Syd can get punters off on the right note by making the most of the inside to win for the kennel of David Harrington. The pacey performer has strong recent form, and this is a drop in class. The selection is crying out for the rails pitch, and he rates banker material.

In the following race, Faypoint Harvey is another who should take the world of beating. The Graham Holland-trained runner enjoys a massive drop in class, and from the rails pitch, he shouldn't be denied. With a quick start expected, it really should be all one-way traffic up front.

It's expected to be a good night all round for trainer Graham Holland; Titanic Brads is the pick in the fifth. The James Campbell-owned runner has won four of his eight career starts, and he has plenty of pace. With a half-decent start, he will take plenty of stopping.

In the closing race, Fahee Phantom, trained by Graham Holland for owner Kenny Glen, can bounce out in front and make every yard of the running. A recent 28.01 winner around Shelbourne Park, he is drawn well in trap two, and he can lead all the way. 

Elsewhere on the card, Rosebank Ben gets a narrow vote to win the third, the Noel Dwyer Memorial Stake final. Quickest on the clock when winning in 29.41 last time, he has strong claims of recording back-to-back winning performances.