BART LEAHY MEMORIAL KICKS OFF AT CURRAHEEN PARK

BART LEAHY MEMORIAL KICKS OFF AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake

The opening round of the €10,000 to the winner of the A2 Bart Leahy Memorial kicks off at Curraheen Park tonight, and we are expecting some big performances in the opening round.

In the sixth and final heat, Ceekay Susie can make all the running for local owner John Naughton and trainer Paul Hennessy. The lightly raced selection was a recent down in Kilkenny back in late May, winning her unraced final in 29.21. She ran a couple of decent races around Shelbourne Park after that, and she looks primed for this. The only slight concern is that it's her first run back after a short lay-off, and she should improve plenty for the run. That's a smart recent trial, and if putting her best foot forward, she looks capable of bouncing out in front and making every yard of the running. She's well drawn next to the rails.

Flyers Penney is another with claims for trainer Colm Fitzgerald. She's got a lovely strike rate, and her recent 17.70 spin around the 330-yard trip is a very nice run. Leading early will be key to her chances, but she looks like a real improver and a big run is expected in this.

In the opening heat, Happy Me should go well for Shane and Sophie Murphy. The selection has smart form in the book, and he ran well in hotly contested Lee Strand below in the Kingdom. That's a smashing trial run last time out, clocking 17.56 around here, and from the rails pitch, he should give it a good go from the front. He looks like one to watch in the coming weeks. Thatsagoodone is another with obvious claims for trainer Jack Kennelly. He's a 21.18 winner around the Dundalk 400-yard run, and if producing that early speed in this, it will take a big run to turn him over. Both look like serious players in the weeks ahead, and this should be a real battle between the two.

Trainer Paul Hennessy has a great record in this event, and Priceless Ron looks like his main player in the third heat. Owned by Bryan and Kathleen Murphy, the selection has a couple of useful lines of form in the book. With only a handful of starts, he has already clocked 29.14 in winning around Enniscorthy. On his most recent outing, he clocked 17.54 in a spin around the Curraheen Park 330. That really stands out, and the early paced selection should make every yard of the running in this.

In heat three, Aghadown Jacob stands out for Niall Collins. The November puppy looked a real star in the making, winning in 28.71. Things didn’t go to plan next time out, but he can bounce back in this. He’s a member of a very smart litter and from a good draw, in trap two, he should be hard to beat. With the best yet to come, he looks like a smashing prospect.

Sleedagh Charm should also be in the mix for trainer Dean Harpur.  Hit or miss in recent runs, when putting her best foot forward, she is smart and she’s not without a chance in this. A big run is expected in this. Both look set to battle it out at the head of affairs.