LUKA READY TO STRIKE IN DROOPYS STUD SELECT STAKES FINAL

Barry Drake

Kilochan Park plays host to a brilliant 10-race card tonight, which features the final of the € 10,000-to-the-winner Droopys Stud Select Stakes.

Magical Luka, a winner of 13 of his 14 career starts, gets the nod for trainer Patrick Guilfoyle. Impressive last week, he clocked sensational early sectionals when making every yard of the running in 28.36. He's expected to improve for that run, and if he produces the same kind of start, he will be hard to reel back in.

Beanos Yank, trained by Graham Holland for the Pups And Pints Syndicate, is another with fine early speed, and he's a huge danger from the inside of the track. Drawn on the inside of Luka, in trap one, Beanos went quickest on the clock last week, posting a top-class 28.26. A recent finalist in the Kirby final at Limerick, another big performance is expected, and he should give the selection plenty to think about. This is far from a one-dog race and Beanos Yank is a massive player.

Bogger Bob, for Liam Peacock, Shanahee Boomer, for Kieran Lynch, Microchip, for Mary Clarke, and Slick Sabre, for Peter Cronin, made up the sextet. It promises to be another outstanding Select Stakes final.

The €2,300 to the winner Whitewood Kennels A3 stake final is another superb contest on the card. Daring Oreo, for Stephanie Maguire and Michael Kennedy, is the one to beat after a couple of superb displays in recent weeks. A 28.55 winner two runs ago, the selection backed that up with another fabulous run last week, winning in 28.54. The exciting August puppy starts and stays, and another front-running winning performance looks very likely in this.

Crohane Ripple is the next best for trainer John O'Donnell. The Thomas Simpson-owned runner delivered a career-best performance to win last week when stopping the clock in 28.60. The sole seeded runner produced a top-class 3.08 sectional on that occasion, and a repeat of that would make him a big player. The May puppy is another with a big future ahead.