GALWAY AIM TO CEMENT INTERTRACK TITLE

Peter Farrell

After a dominant performance by Galway in the opening leg of the Intertrack Challenge against Limerick, the Connacht venue plays host to the return fixture tonight, with expectations high that the hosts can defend, or even extend, what is already a commanding advantage.

As things stand, Galway hold a 34-point lead over Limerick, largely thanks to landing three of the four races on offer last weekend, with the score currently 87-53 in favour of the Tribesmen. With another four graded contests on offer tonight, the Limerick connections will need exceptional performances from their raiders if they are to turn things around. However, nothing is impossible in greyhound racing.

The opening Intertrack contest is an A3 525 and Galway hold a strong hand, with both Light And Leafy and Balure Diamond expected to go well. The former, trained by Pat Conway for Josephine Garvey, is a winner of three from eight and has produced some quality displays over the two-bend trip. The brindle son of Dromana Bucko reverts to four bends tonight and has a good draw in two from which to race prominently. Balure Diamond, meanwhile, was a winner on his latest outing in 29.38 and, although stepping up in grade, looks more than capable of improving. Musical Gags has a number of sub-1.30 sectionals at Limerick and, should she transfer these to Galway, she can ask plenty of questions in the early exchanges.

Another A3 follows and Glamorous Jet is the selection for The-Horan-Family-Syndicate. The talented son of Priceless Jet regularly contests the top races at Galway and is fresh from a solid performance last weekend, finishing strongly to fall just short in 28.96. Although facing a tricky draw in four, he can nestle into a good position before producing another late flurry. Main rivals include Hanover Gorm, who is perfectly housed in red, while Salsa Fire is fresh from a fine 29.34 .20s effort last time out.

Sprint action is next on the agenda in the third race of the Intertrack Challenge and it is difficult to look past Ballyea Jet, who comes into the contest chasing a hat-trick for Albert Mullins and Noel Gavin. The experienced son of Jaytee Jet is an 18-time winner and, should he replicate his 19.11 effort last time out, he will be difficult to contain from trap two. The chief threat can emerge from Nashville, who boasts a terrific record and has plenty of previous history with Ballyea Jet.

The final Intertrack contest is an excellent A1/A2 affair and, although stepping up in grade, it is difficult to ignore the performance of Rosshill Ciara last time out at Limerick. On that occasion, Joe Long’s runner clocked a brisk 28.71 from the front and she boasts a terrific draw in trap two from which to build on that effort. While taking on a classier type this time around, the experienced daughter of Grangeview Ten is certainly not expected to be out of place. Of her rivals, Code Four was headed late on at Limerick but has plenty of scope for improvement with just eight races under his belt, while Confused Kiely is a very smart individual if he can overcome a tricky draw in five.

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