WONDERFUL ACTION AT KILKENNY

Ian Fortune

This evening’s card at Kilkenny is packed with quality racing. The opening round of the T.P. Weadick 725 should see some fine performances over six bends, while the second round of the valuable Kilkenny Track A3 525 looks hugely competitive.

REDZER HOPING TO DEFEND HIS TITLE

Redzer Ardfert ran away with the competition last year, winning his three outings in the stake by a combined twenty-four length margin.

He has subsequently captured the St Leger in the UK, the Night of Stars 750 and broken the track record at Shelbourne Park.

He is clearly a leading fancy for this year’s competition but one suspects he won’t have things quite as easy as he did in 2019. He lines out in Heat 2 where Herecomesdahoney and Monbeg Zinzan look the main dangers.

The latter, in particular, is an interesting runner. He has shown massive pace and power in recent outings and the step up to six bends could see him really come into his own.

RIPLEY HOPING TO CONTINUE FINE FORM

The opening heat features a number of talented types.

Ripley Lad set new figures for the 600yd trip at Mullingar in his penultimate start in the Cesarewitch. He ran well over six bends at Shelbourne Park last month and looks a leading fancy.

Mean Beauty is certain to finish well and is another worthy of respect, while it would also be unwise to ignore the claims of Glengar Mary, former UK based runner Jap Rox and Live Jewel, who boasts a six-bend victory around Kilkenny.

PEARL COULD BE A STAYING STAR

The final heat is an intriguing affair. Upward Pearl has long given the impression she could be a star over extended distances and she looks a leading fancy.

Glenlara Rosa has been finishing at speed in recent outings in the Cesarewitch and will be suited by a step back up in trip, while Yukiko, Glory Francesca and Kiltymon Pearl are also stepping up in trip for the first time and could be anything.

LOLO CAN IMPRESS AGAIN

Mysterious Lola set the standard in the opening round of the Kilkenny Track A3 525 and Roisin Walsh’s daughter of Droopys Roddick will again be fancied to go close in Heat 3.

Drawn in four for the second week running, she looks the most likely pace-setter and could take some stopping if getting loose.

Of her rivals, Hartford Master looks the main danger although he too may need to set the pace. Me Vicky and Pennys Kai will be staying on best.

Blackstone Ballad has shown plenty of pace and promise in his two outings to date and Pat Sinnott’s charge could take some stopping in the opening heat if he receives a clear passage. Triangle Huge has an ideal draw on the fence and could emerge as a threat, while Realism. Lemon Scott and Minister Cross remains open to much improvement.

Heat 2 is wide open with all six holding some sort of claims. Hold Fire Now has shown plenty of ability in the past and may improve on his opening round effort to come home in front for Ollie Bray. Hello Hammond is another open to improvement and holds claims, while Kilkenny regular Fill The Till is rarely far away.

The final heat looks pretty hot with Boylesportsbingo, Graigues Griffiin and Rockettothethird all capable of making a bold bid. Boylesportsbingo ran up the Juvenile Derby in 2019 and, while he has yet to repeat that sort of form, he did post 28.90 in the opening round and a similar return this evening could be enough.

Rockettothethird lived up to his name in the opening round when setting a searching gallop from the front and he will look to do so again, while Graigues Griffin has improved with each outing and is clearly one to note. 

CURIO HEADS OAKS BETTING

Ian Fortune

It won’t come as much of a shock that Droopys Curio heads Boylesports betting for outright glory in the Sporting Press Irish Oaks.

The Robert Gleeson trained star displayed awesome pace in the opening round and looks drawn to go very fast indeed tomorrow night so a 3-1 quote looks fair.

Swanley Chick, Battle Cry and Ballymac Beanie are next at 8-1, while Miss Joss, Roanna Bess and Grangeview West are available at 10-1.

BOYLESPORTS bet:3 Droopys Curio, 8 Swanley Chick, Battle Cry, Ballymac Beanie, 10 Miss Joss, Roanna Bess, Grangeview West, 12 Scooby Princess, Lang Syne, Billys Diva, 14 Ballymac Art, 16 Ravenswood Mango, Fabulous Belle, Clear Mountain, Highview Mission, Bo Shine Bullet, 20 Ropewalk Pacer, Razldazl Annie, Sliabh Liag, Ballymac Wisdom, Slippery Diva, Priceless Verona, 25 Boylesports Joy, Ballymac Juliet, 33 bar.

MEDUZA TO STAR AGAIN AS SELACHII LEGAL MUNSTER JUVENILE CUP CONTINUES

Peter Farrell

There’s another busy night in store at Clonmel as the second round of the Selachii Legal Munster Juvenile Puppy Cup gets underway on a card which also features the semi finals of the Suirside Restaurant Unraced Bitch Stake.

Meduza was the star of the Selachii Legal Munster Juvenile Puppy Cup opening round last week and the John Byrne trained greyhound is fancied to follow up that excellent performance with another win for connections. Well housed in trap three, his split time would suggest he will be out and gone on the run to the opening corner and if doing so, it will be a case of his rivals battling it out for the minor qualifying places. Urban Fire followed Meduza home last week and he again looks likely to repeat that run from a nice draw on the rails, while Twitterstorm can also get involved after he overcame a troublesome passage last week to qualify.

HEAT WATCH

In the opening heat of the night, Ballinabola Bolt is fancied to make it three wins on the spin for owner Brendan Murphy. This dog looks the real deal and he has more than a few lengths up his sleeve in his bid to make it three wins from just the five starts. Perfectly drawn in trap three, anything other than a make-all performance will come as a shock. Deadly Endeavour and Carrowkeal Kobe serve as the main threats.

Heat three is a far more open affair with several greyhounds boasting claims. It is rather unfortunate that three of the four wide seeds left in this stake has been penned in together in heat three and it will be interesting to see how the youngsters negotiate this in the early yards. Fiveoclocksomwer has done nothing wrong in his career thus far and he could lead from trap four. The Graham Holland trained greyhound is consistent on the split clock and a middle draw may enhance his chances of taking another flier in his bid to make all of the running. Coconut Crazy is another who caught the eye last week. Kieran Lynch’s black was in the wars last week but came through well to seal qualification and he will no doubt come on for the look around Clonmel last week. Of the others, Golder Tiger can get involved from a smart draw on the fence.

In the final heat of the night Pierno is selected to break his duck for trainer Thomas O’Donovan. Normally a fast starter, he missed the break somewhat last week and he is well capable of posting a sib 2.90 split time. A second look at Clonmel tonight will do him no harm and although drawn a bit far out than preferred, the son of Laughil Blake is expected to prevail. Of his rivals, Springfield Gold has been handed a much better draw in red this week and she can build on her previous best 28.82 clock.

BALLYMAC TO BOUNCE BACK?

The undercard in Clonmel tonight isn’t too shabby either as the semi finals of the Suirside Restaurant Unraced Bitch Stake take place and despite going down to defeat last week, Ballymac Notoyou will be fancied to get back to winning ways.

This won’t be straightforward however, and Bettys Hope makes huge appeal as she bids to maintain her unbeaten tag in the stake. Richard Spencer’s bitch showed that a draw in stripes makes little difference to her and her split times suggest she will be out in front of Ballymac Notoyou early doors. That said, it could make for a fascinating contest and although Ballymac Notoyou has bags of time in hand based on her first round performance, a tricky draw in five could see Betty’s get first run. Of the others, Toker Jane and The Other Sal look most likely to cause an upset should the leading duo falter.

BETTY CAN BOOK HER SPOT IN FINAL

In the second semi final, three of the four heat winners from last week will go head to head.

Bettys Book ran a huge race after her momentum was halted on more than one occasion last week and she has a nice draw in three to get a more trouble free passage this week. The daughter of Droopys Sydney has the added advantage of being able to do it both ways and she looks a leading hope for owner Richard Spencer. The first fifty yards will be crucial however, as Jet Stream Debit is on her immediate inside and serves as a major threat for Paul Kiely. Two from two thus far, she will need to avoid being the meat in the sandwich early on but she can be a major player if trapping on terms. Of the others, Redzer Ruinart ran a fine race last week to lead home Ballymac Notoyou but her draw in five is a concern and Pat Reddan will just hope for a clear passage in the early yards.

Reminder to all that tonight’s Clonmel action can be followed on the Barking Buzz app.