GEM RETURNS TO DEFEND FAIR WARRIOR CROWN
Ian Fortune
One of the feature sprint competitions of the year, the Pat Doran Memorial Fair Warrior Open 400, gets underway at Mullingar this evening and it promises to be a fascinating opening round.
Each of the six heats feature some talented speedsters and last year’s champion Gem Friendly returns to defend her crown, adding an extra layer of intrigue to a competition that always attracts considerable interest.
With four qualifying from each heat, there is little bit of wiggle room for mistakes, although one or two of the more fancied runners are likely to exit the stake with Mullingar often catching out greyhounds with limited experience of the midlands circuit.
A WINNING EFFORT FRM TEN?
The opening heat is perhaps the weakest with few of those on show boasting any sprint form of any significance.
Indeed, Pat The Doc, See The Wonder and Bailie Boy have 87 starts between them, not one of which came over two bends.
Of those with sprint form, Ten For Effort boasts the best. He just gets the nod but, honestly, picking a winner is a near impossibility in this contest.
WIDE OPEN CONTEST
The second heat is a very different proposition with some proven performers on show including Woodcliff Duke.
He has impressed around Mullingar in the past and must be respected from an ideal draw on the fence.
But he won’t have things all his own way. His kennel companion in six, Early Payout, looked a potential star in his youth and, while his career has been a bit stop start, he is clearly respected given how good he has been over two bends in the past.
Throw in the early paced Boltaway Wink, the promising Arrow Lambo and Mullingar regular Bawn Paul and there is no room for error. Veteran Cagey Billy completes the line-up but his best form has often come over far further.
FRIENDLY FACING TOUGH TEST
The third heat features Gem Friendly, who returns to defend the crown she won last year.
She has an excellent record at Mullingar, winning each of her four starts at the venue, including a rapid 21.11 return in last year’s decider.
She has raced less than a handful of times since that night but must be respected given her previous form at Mullingar. She wears the stripes she carried to victory last year and is clearly respected.
Se faces some talented rivals including Lone Calling, who provides a real touch of class. A natural starter with fine early speed, she steps back to two bends for the first time in her career but is clearly a leading fancy for Michael O’Donovan.
Gallant Hunter is another that can figure, while Minstrel Rocket, Ardevan Cashman and Supa Mac complete a talented field.
REACH FOR THE SKY
Heat 4 is another fascinating contest.
Vincent McKenna sends out Tubber Ace. She moved very well in a recent trial around Mullingar and is worthy of respect, although others in the contest boast some useful sprint form. These include Ridgemount Sky and Mr Moneybags.
The former is perfectly housed on the fence and may get first run, while Mr Moneybags has a kind draw in the stripes but needs to improve on his latest trial around Mullingar.
MICROCHIP AN INTRIGUING ENTRY
The fifth heat is another strong contest.
Recent Consolation Laurels winner Microchip is an interesting competitor. He has winning form over two bends in the past but has been racing over further in recent months.
If he does come away racing, he seems certain to have a big say in the outcome. Of his rivals, Roscrea Buck and Glenlara Dubh have both won around Mullingar in recent weeks and can play a part, while Buddy Bruno has some superb sprint form at Dundalk.
Roscrea Buck is the choice, however. The strapping son of Dromana Bucko boasts a record of five wins from five career starts and moved very well in a recent trial. He is chosen to remain unbeaten for Jim Connell and Ronan Colgan.
BROWNE TO SHOW HIS CLASS
The final heat provides a fitting conclusion to the opening roundwith Stonepark Browne standout out as the one to beat of producing anything close to his best.
Rallying Billy, Valderrama, Callaway Danny, This Just In and Twilight Talbot complete the line-up and all five have impressive form over two bends but Stonepark Browne is very special when firing on all cylinders.
In what is clearly the best of the six heats, he is chosen to add another victory to his already impressive tally.
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