AN EPIC EXPECTED AT KILKENNY
Ian Fortune
Kilkenny will be packed to the rafters this evening with a huge crowd expected to flow through the stiles for what promises to b a wonderful night of action.
The undoubted feature is the final of the Champion Open Unraced with six of the most promising young trackers in training chasing the €15,000 carrot on offer.
This is a contest bursting with quality with any of the six capable of going on to superstardom in the future. AS is always the case, the race to the corner will have a hug bearing on the outcome although recent evidence suggests that the winner won’t necessarily be the dog that leads the field into the back straight.
ALF TO SET THE PACE?
Ballinakill Alf is perhaps the most likely pace-setter from an ideal draw on the fence.
He is a young greyhound with stunning speed to the bend and down the back straight. This is highlighted by his incredible 16.47 to the third turn in the second round.
If repeating that sort of form, it would need something extraordinary to deny the son of Pestana the early lead. He has suffered defeat in each of his last two outings, however, with the petrol gauge running low of the final turn on both occasions.
DOUGHNUT REMAINS UNBEATEN
He was picked up by the Johnny Linehan trained Droopys Doughnut last week, who again looks a big player despite a slightly tricky draw in four.
Another son of Pestana, he is the only runner in the line-up that can boast an unbeaten record.
That record looked under serious threat last week after he gave his rivals a head start but he displayed real pace, power and determination to get to the front in the closing yards. Were he to make a slick exit from trap four, he should have the early speed to clear both Clonroosk Sydney and Carrick Fergie, which could potentially give him first crack at Ballinakill Alf.
FERGIE HAS AN ENGINE
The aforementioned Carrick Fergie took off last week, posting an incredible 28.58, the fifth fastest time of all-time at Kilkenny.
And yet it’s evidence of the strength on show in this final that he is not seen as the clear favourite.
He certainly favours and inside draw and will slip onto the fence if failing to contain Ballinakill Alf in the opening exchanges. That would see him emerge a serious threat as there is no doubting he has a massive engine.
SYDNEY FAST ENOUGH TO FIGURE
Clonroosk Sydney is cut from the same cloth as Carrick Fergie.
He too may not have the same sort of early speed as Ballinakill Alf but did pick up that rival in the second round when posting a rapid 28.69.
He overcame early traffic to qualify in third last week but remains a leading fancy. There is no doubt he will need to turn close in the pace as this isn’t the type of contest where you can afford to give your rivals a good start but he certainly has the engine to have a big say.
SYD AND COPPER FACING A TOUGH DRAW
That leads us to the outside duo, Stonepark Syd and Ballymac Copper.
The former was hugely impressive in the second round when coming home clear in 28.74 although he hasn’t been lucky with the draw.
If he is to win, the son of Droopys Sydney must rocket from trap five as he has a tendency to edge inwards.
Ballymac Copper is the only finalist without a win on his card. He has finished behind Carrick Fergie and Stonepark Syd in his last two outings and needs both a flying start and a little luck to open his account tonight.
A WIDE-OPEN AFFAIR
It’s a truly wide-open contest but also a final to look forward to with real relish.
The race to the bend will be of real importance with Ballinakill Alf the most likely leader up the fence. He was denied by just a half length in his last two outings and he wouldn’t need much to go in his favour to remain in front.
Droopys Doughnut has shown both the pace and attitude to suggest he is destined for the very top and a fast start could see him make a bold bid also. And then there is Carrick Fergie, Clonroosk Sydney and Stonepark Syd, all of which have shown they are capable of going fast.
NO EASY TASK PICKING A WINNER
In terms of picking a winner, it’s no easy task but one suspects the winner will come from either Ballinakill Alf or Droopys Doughnut.
With slight preference for the latter. The best of luck to all involved.