SEMI FINALS OF GREYHOUND & PETWORLD SUPERSPRINT AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake

The semi-finals of the Greyhound & Petworld Supersprint take centre stage at Curraheen Park tonight

Impressive in the opening round, the Michael O'Donovan-trained Echo Zulu can record made it back-to-back wins in race eight, the second semi-final. In the ownership of Basil and Bernadette Holian, the selection is a consistent fast trapper and that could be the winning of this race. The son of Laughil Blake will need to rocket to the opening corner, but he is expected to make a very bold bid. A 17.67 winner last week, a reproduction of that should see him go very close.

LEADING PLAYER

Flashing Willow is another leading player for the Pat Buckley team.

One of Ireland's quickest sprinters in recent times, if he gets it right early, he will take some stopping. However, he can be hit or miss at the traps and he's proving costly to follow in recent times.

Of the others, the John Kiely-trained Barnfield Pirate has to be taken seriously. Chasing five straight wins, he's won five of his eight career outings and going on his 17.67-win last week, the Tomas Leahy-owned runner should be in the mix.

A NARROW VOTE

Super Hit Man gets a narrow vote in the opening heat.

Trapping is a slight concern, but if he happened to get it right early, he would be capable of clocking a really fast time. That was a decent performance last week and he should be in the mix.

REX CAN STORM TO VICTORY

Ballyhimikin Rex is a leading player in the fifth of the night.

In the care of Billy and John Dunne, the selection comes here in good form and this looks a shade easier in recent outings. A strong running sort, he will be making his move from halfway and he will take plenty of stopping in the closing stages. Millridge Timmy is the danger for the O'Mahony kennel. He's running consistently well in recent efforts and his form gives him strong claims.

IN OTHER RACES

Millridge Dolly rates banker material in race nine. Donal O'Mahony's lady is running really well in top-class contests over the last number of weeks. She got the eye in the recent Cork Oaks and with a quick start expected out wide, it should take a big performance to stop the talented lady.

Churchtown Syd, trained by Denis Fitzgerald for Mick Crotty, can send punters home on a high by landing the closing race on the card. A strong finisher, the selection is expected to turn handy and in doing so, he will be hard to hold. This is his best winning opportunity for quite some time and he can take full advantage.