ALL EYES ON SETANTA IN THE BAR 1 BETTING IRISH GREYHOUND LAURELS

Barry Drake

BALLYMAC SETANTA, who set a new track record last week, can record back-to-back winning performances in the BAR 1 Betting Irish Greyhound Laurels at Curraheen Park tonight.

The Liam Dowling-trained runner is selected to make all the running in the sixth, which is heat number two.

A recent winner of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate at Curraheen Park, he delivered another sensational performance last week, clocking an incredible 27.75. Drawn in trap three, he has the early pace to make all the running once most. Ante-post favourite for outright glory, Ballymac Setanta will start as a short-priced favourite in this heat, and he should take plenty of stopping. 

Cill Dubh Cothal, trained by Michael Donnelly for owner Michael Bergin, was another to impress last week, winning in 28.17. He has stunning early speed, but he will need an explosive start to clear his inside runner; however, he is capable of another big run.

Magical Jet is the pick in the opening heat for Patrick and Donal Guilfoyle. The selection ran well in the opening corner; however, with the advantage of the inside in this, he should return to winning ways. In truth, it looks like a good opportunity, and he's worthy of market support. Fleetwood Moment, for trainer Gerry Holian, and Blastoff O Henry, for trainer Philip Buckley, are others that should be in the mix.

The third heat is a very tricky heat, with a narrow vote going to the Barry Clancy-trained Droopys Monk. He has plenty of strong form around Curraheen Park, and he kicked his Laurels bid with a fine 28.20 winning display last week. He has huge early speed, but he can be hit or miss at the traps. In this, he will need to come away racing, as Enochj Bark, in five, will be moving inwards right away.

Coloursaregreen brings strong form to the race, and he's got real claims for trainer Paul Hennessy. Owned by Brendan Cocoman and Ian Cunningham, he is no stranger to big performances, and he displayed a lot of speed after a poor start last week. He will need his quickest start to land the spoils tonight.

Jaykay Fly ran a cracker in defeat last week, and he's the pick in heat number five for trainer Paul Hennessy. A recent 28.25 winner around course and distance, if he comes away racing and avoids his inside runner, it will take a big performance to reel him in. The only concern is that Droopys Unreal will take a step out early doors.

Newinn Spot went into the notebook last week, and he can start better than he did that night. Trained by Graham Holland for Kenny Glen, there's a flash start in him, and if he produces it in this, he's a real player.

All eyes will be on Ballymac Kamala in the closing heat, and from the rails pitch, she will be hard to beat. That was a decent run from a tricky run last week, and we are expecting a much better effort in this. Trap one is the place to be at Curraheen Park, and she's fancied to return to winning ways.

Punters should follow owner Simon Buckley and trainer Tony Winters in earlier races. In the second, Clonavanny Blue should go very close. In the following race, Clonavanny Blue can prove a class apart.