SALAH TO FACE STERNER TEST IN VALUABLE LIFFORD STAKE

Peter Farrell

The second round of the €4,000-to-the-winner Northwest Greyhound Supplies A4/A5 525 takes centre stage at Lifford later tonight, with the competition expected to gather momentum following a relatively steady opening round.

Joint-fastest in the opening round was Patrick McIntyre’s Hillslot Salah, who is set to go off a warm favourite in the penultimate heat. Clocking a blistering 2.53 early split en route to a 29.06 return, ‘Salah’ was never in danger on that occasion. However, this represents a sterner test and any repeat of that electric early pace is far from guaranteed. Lemon Donnacha is preferred to capitalise if there is any lapse. Drawn immediately outside in trap five, the Declan Crossan-trained runner is well suited to the demands of Lifford and can produce a late surge to make it back-to-back wins in the stake.

Old Fort Jingo is taken to land the opening heat following an encouraging display in round one. Trained by Tony Teague, she was having just her fourth career start when overcoming early traffic to finish strongly on her Lifford debut. With the benefit of a favourable draw in trap one, she is expected to improve further and looks capable of posting a personal best. Kilara Charli is difficult to oppose after a decisive success in the opening round. The son of Dromana Bucko recorded 29.18 on that occasion and has been handed what appears a favourable draw in trap two. In the concluding heat, Meenagh Manila is well positioned to complete a double for Anthony and Chloe Taggart. Matching Hillslot Salah’s time in round one, she brings strong form into the contest and has previously competed against higher-calibre opposition. The daughter of Broadstrand Bono appears to be returning to peak form and, from a rails draw, is expected to make a bold bid.