SIX SWEEPSTAKE FINALS ON OFFER AT LIMERICK
Peter Farrell
There is a feast of racing at Limerick Greyhound Stadium tonight as no fewer than six sweepstake finals go down for decision and the feature is that of the Nan & Babs Quinn Memorial A2 525, worth €2,000 to the winner.
Kindly sponsored by the Quinn Family, the Nan & Babs Memorial has proved very competitive throughout and although tasting defeat in her semi final assignment, Starson Katie is still likely to go off favourite. Colm and Pat O’Connell’s charge has clocked a blistering 28.43 in this stake and that ranks as a competition best thus far. Indeed, the daughter of Explosive Boy had no answer to Tally Ho Socks last time out, however, is once again drawn in red and that alone should be of a major plus for connections. The aforementioned Tally Ho Socks is without doubt the danger. The son of Ballymac Cashout is still learning his trade but made everyone take notice in the semis when making every post a winner in 28.66. Leading his inside rivals is crucial, however, make no mistake he is a big player. Gwan My Boy is another with claims. Trained Pat O’Connell, the brindle son of Explosive Boy got back to winning ways last time out when taking charge late on to prevail from red. Drawn in two this time around, he also needs to negotiate a tough draw in between his main threats. Of the others, Roundies Shadow, Cherrygrove Four and Hazelhill Percy are capable of big performances but will need to step up on what they have shown thus far.
POPPY TO BLOOM
The final of the €1,700 to the winner Michael Pascal O’Ryan takes place in race five and it will be a major shock if Daleroad Poppy doesn’t prevail after a series of frightening performances.
Trained by Pat Guilfoyle for Thomas and John O’Keeffe, Daleroad Poppy has taken off in this A4 stake and she romped home in the opening round to post a blistering 28.31. Fast-forward seven days later and ‘Poppy’ again raced to a comfortable victory in 28.55. As a result, the daughter of Good News will be odds-on to make it a hat-trick of wins and she is well drawn in trap three to make-all. Of her rivals, all will need serious improvement if they are to upset the cart, however, Rallying Dove will carry support in six. Owned by Dan Flynn and trained by Michael O’Meara, ‘Dove’ is also unbeaten coming into the decider, however, she has drawn the short straw with a horrible draw in six. Of the remainder, Peakys Glory looks the most likely to make the frame after catching the eye in defeat last time out.
WIDE-OPEN GREYHOUND & PETWORLD DECIDER
There is another tidy €1,700 on offer in the final of the Greyhound & Petworld A2 550 and Fast Fit Pennie will look to continue her purple patch by recording a third straight victory for John Quinn.
The daughter of Dorotas Wildcat is in the midst of the form of her life and she was a rapid winner in 29.80 last weekend, which followed on from a 29.75 win prior to that. A similar performance from a plumb draw in red will likely see her land the spoils once again. That said, despite being well beaten last time out, Connie Kaboom has strong claims. Jointly owned by James Kelly and Tom McCarthy, the choicely bred son of Malachi and Love Island has 29.64 in his book and those figures are superior to his rivals. With just the five starts under his belt, a fast start from a better draw in four can see him prevail.
FANTASY CAN LAND MACE SHANNON 600
Sponsored by Peter Russell, the final of the €1,300 to the winner Mace Shannon A3 600 and Fantasy Tuppence gets the vote for Albert Mullins and the Top-Benefit Syndicate.
Fantasy Tuppence landed her semi final assignment in 33.10 and she did so in terrific fashion when coming from off-the-pace to win going away. The daughter of Redzer Ardfert came into the event fresh off back-to-back wins over the marathon 810 distance at Galway so she is clearly in fine fettle at this present time. Drawn in four, this lady can do it both ways so if taking one of her slower starts, it certainly isn’t a case of tearing up your docket. Of her rivals, Too Easy was the fastest semi final winner and the son of Broadstrand Bono has a brilliant draw in red. Posting a rapid 32.80 on that occasion, he certainly appreciated the extra yardage and he will without doubt attract plenty of interest.
OMEY THE SELECTION IN PEPPERS DUAL-DISTANCE
Sponsored by Peppers Bar, the Peppers Of Feakle Dual Distance A1 offers another handsome €1,200 and Omey Mist gets the narrow vote to get back to winning ways for Gerry Holian.
Owned by the Don’t-Be-Late Syndicate, Omey Mist reached the final of the Galway Oaks last month and she wasn’t disgraced when going down by just over three lengths. The daughter of Good News may have failed to justify strong support in her semi finals when settling for second behind Grouchos Prince, however, she showed enough to suggest the extra yardage should be tailor made and she gets the vote as a result. Of her rivals, the outside duo of Grouchos Prince and Lakeside Albert both produced fine performances last time out and will carry plenty of claims from good draws in five and six respectively. Of the pair, ‘Albert’, who is a brother to Kirby winner Knockeen Dazzler is a potential leader and he can make a bold bid for Jack Mahoney.
STRONG HAND FOR CAMPION IN GOBA DECIDER
The last of the finals down for decision on the night is the Limerick & Clare GOBA Mini Open and Paraic Campion has a very strong hand with his ‘Highview’ trackers.
Both greyhounds are owned by the VHR Syndicate and it was Highview Ben that went quickest last time out when posting a fast 28.58. A son of Pat C Sabbath, ‘Ben’ took charge down the back before winning comfortably and he has drawn the bingo box in his bid for back-to-back wins. Indeed, ‘Bizarr’ is also likely to be staying on strongly. She too came from behind on her last start to post 28.69 and she is the best drawn tracker in the line-up as the sole wide runner. Of the others, Fast Paws is a likely leader from five but whether can hold on remains to be seen, while Boss Go isn’t without a chance for Conor Curtin in four.
BRILLIANT CARD
Aside from the finals, there are some brilliant one-off races on offer and the first of those is the Martin Ryan & Sons Transport Company Open 350.
In what looks a wide-open contest, the vote goes to Zippy Canning, who is fresh off some devastating performances around the home of sprinting, Dundalk. Recent clocks of 21.12 and 21.13 are lightning, while he is also a recent finalist in the Fair Warrior at Mullingar. Indeed, should Paula Hoban’s charge bring that sort of form to Limerick, he is surely the one to beat. Of his rivals, the returning Velvet Duchess re-qualified with a rapid 18.65 trial and she looks well-housed to go well from red.
GALWAY OAKS WINNER RETURNS
Race ten is the Keatings Fruit & Veg AAO 525 and this will see the return of recent Fonez Galway Oaks winner Drombeg Pearl.
The Evan McAuliffe-owned tracker went unbeaten through the Galway Oaks and her early pace could prove decisive in this contest. Her recent trial of 18.79 around Shelbourne is encouraging and she is very well drawn in trap four to race prominently. Of her rivals, Beanos Podge is a rapidly improving tracker for Pat Buckley and is one to watch, while Grouchos Finn isn’t without his chance for John Byrne in six.
