TRIBAL SYD CAN GET THE LAURELS OFF TO A FLYER AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake

The opening round of the €30,000 to the winner Bar One Racing in association with the Friends & Supporters of Cork Greyhound Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels gets underway at Curraheen Park tonight.

With 12 first-round heats down for decision, it promises to be a night of top-class racing action.

Leading fancy for outright glory, the Murt Leahy-trained Tribal Syd can make a winning start in the opening heat. A winner of the Tipperary Cup back in early July, the Martin Costigan runner has since finished second in the Dundalk International and last time out, he made a superb winning debut around the Cork venue, clocking a stunning 28.07. With the outside to himself, if he can produce one of his usual quick starts, he should then take serious stopping in this. 

Of the others in the line-up, Lemon Mick, also trained by Murt Leahy, is of interest from the inside of the track. A career best of 28.28 around Shelbourne Park last time out, the youngster is clearly going the right way and another big performance is on the cards.

Crafty Alejandro can make the most of the inside line in race number 10. Owned and trained by Shane Divilly, the September youngster is a 28.18 winner around Shelbourne Park and he's at his best when slipping around in front. From the rails, the classy tracker can lead early and from the front, he shouldn't be for catching.

Droopys Carbine is next best for trainer Pat Kiely. Owned by Mike Kiely and Michael Ryan, the four-time winner is a recent 28.25 winner around course and distance and he ran well behind Tribal Syd last time out.

Crafty Shivoo, a winner of the Oaks last year, is a really interesting runner in heat number three. In superb form around the UK in recent months, she has recently joined the Pat Norris team and her recent 17.35 spin around the 330-yard trip at Curraheen Park is top-class. The draw is far from ideal and she will need to explode from traps if she's to make all the running. The Graham Holland-trained Faypoint Harvey and the Pat O'Connell-trained Bouncing Lad are others with leading claims.

In heat 11, Radical Harry is selected to prove a class apart. Trained by Thomas O'Donovan for Gerard Hutton, the selection stands out in this line-up and if putting his best foot forward, he should take plenty of stopping. A 28.18 winner around Limerick, with a half-decent start in this, he should score. 

Graham Holland has a strong team in the event and Ardera Sam gets the nod in the sixth. The lightly raced tracker clocked 28.04 last time out and on that running, he is the one to beat. Romeo Taylor, another for the Holland team, is next best.

Curraheen Park selections for Saturday, September 7.

Race 1: Tribal Syd (Nap) (Lemon Mick)

Race 2: Hazelhill Bucko (Drombeg Pearl)

Race 3: Crafy Shivoo (Faypoint Harvey)

Race 4: Barefoot On Fire (Ower Cracker)

Race 5: The Other Kobe (Butterbridgejohn)

Race 6: Ardera Sam (Romeo Taylor)

Race 7: Superfast Gorden (Drombeg Bear)

Race 8: High Trend (Road Exile)

Race 9: Romeo Control (Untold Dollar)

Race 10: Crafty Alejandro (Droopys Carbine)

Race 11: Radical Harry (Joes Wink)

Race 12: Ballycowen Conor (Burgess Supreme)