HOLLAND CAN DOMINATE VILLAGE KENNELS CHRISTMAS CUP SEMIS

Peter Farrell

After some brilliant action in the opening round of the Village Kennels Munster Juvenile Christmas Cup, the temperature is set to rise at Clonmel tonight as the semi-finals of the €5,000-to-the-winner event go down for decision.

The standard was laid down in emphatic fashion by the Graham Holland-trained Bombay Special, who now headlines the second semi-final and is sure to go off a short-priced favourite. The January puppy, owned by Jack Ryan, posted a sparkling 28.32 in her opening-round assignment, bringing her career tally to an impressive five wins from six starts. The daughter of Dromana Bucko will don the orange jacket and that should pose no issues. After clocking a sharp 2.80 sectional last time out, the classy brindle looks likely to dispute the early running with Pretty Exile, though Holland’s charge should have the strength to assert before long. Among her rivals, Velvet Ring renews acquaintances with Bombay Special and once again looks the main danger. Mike Buckley’s runner, a son of Glengar Bale, boasts some exceptional times of his own and ran a fine race in defeat last time. Expected to take another step forward, the white-jacketed runner has claims, but he will almost certainly need to lead his rival to land a telling blow. Jerrivee De Meg is another to note after Paul Hennessy’s youngster posted a rapid 28.54 in the opener. That was his first start at Clonmel, and for another son of Dromana Bucko, further improvement from trap four seems very likely.

BRIAN TO GIVE RIVALS THE SLIP

In the first semi-final, all eyes will be on Slippery Brian, who also stamped his authority last time out for Larry Dunne and Graham Holland.

After a moderate start, the son of Ballymac Cashout - Old Treasure showed a powerful turn of acceleration to sweep past his rivals at the penultimate bend and score with plenty in hand. His 28.54 return was particularly eye-catching given the off-the-pace manner of the performance, and he emerges as a major player moving forward. With another plum draw in trap one, he looks poised to continue his excellent career start, having yet to finish outside the first two. Of his chief dangers, Cronody Bluey had no answer to Slippery Brian last time but lost little in defeat, going down by just two and a half lengths. Drawn wider in four tonight, the son of Droopys Sydney will need to be on the receiving end of a ping break to clear traffic. Elvis Bay is another contender for Thomas O’Donovan out in six. The sole wide seed is likely to enjoy a clean passage, and while his 28.92 win last time suggests he must find a few lengths, the February whelp has the scope to take that step forward.