THRILLING CONCLUSION IN STORE IN TOP-CLASS KILCOLGAN CASTLE CONNACHT DERBY DECIDER
Peter Farrell
There is an action packed night in store at Galway Greyhound Stadium with four finals going down for decision, however, the feature is undoubtedly the €9,000 to the winner Kilcolgan Castle Connacht Derby,
Kindly sponsored by Karen Geoghegan, who kindly stepped in to sponsor this event since its last running in 2009, the Connacht Derby has been a terrific reintroduction to the greyhound racing calendar and it has produced some hugely competitive action at Galway in recent weeks. The withdrawal of Epic Ace yesterday evening was without doubt a blow but nonetheless we have five top trackers lining out and connections of each can have reason for optimism in what is now a wide-open finale.
A LOOK AT THE FINALISTS
T1 – CANYA STEVE (Owner: Imelda Sinclair – Trainer: David Flanagan)
‘Steve’ comes into the decider having been rewarded with a brilliant trap one berth, which is the trap he won convincingly from in the second round, in 30.28. The son of Malachi and Burkos Dream, who was top-class herself around Galway, has performed well up to this point and is certainly one with good claims as he bids to bounce back from his third place finish in the semis. Has a lovely blend of early speed to compliment his staying power and a fast start could see him nestle into a favourably pitch early on. Trios?
T2 – MAGICAL MAG (Owner: Patrick Guilfoyle)
A lady that arrives cherry ripe as she bids to build on a hugely impressive 30.11 semi final victory. The sole Pat Guilfoyle runner after the unfortunate withdrawal of kennel companion, Epic Ace, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Mystical Luna has progressed throughout this competition and her 4.58 sectional from last week reads very well in her attempt to make it four wins from just ten career starts. A leading player from a good draw in trap two, ‘Mag’ is on an upward curve and don’t be surprised if she puts her rivals to the sword later tonight.
T3 – BALLYMAC SORREL (Owner: Cormac & Charlie Doyle – Trainer: Pat Buckley)
A leading player from a leading kennel and one that has taken to his Connacht surroundings in good style. The strapping fawn son of Ballymac Vic set the standard in round one with a fastest of the stake 29.91 and although finishing as the bridesmaid on subsequent starts since, has lost little in defeat with big performances in behind. Comes into the event as the most inexperienced tracker with just seven starts under his belt, the May pup has a limitless ceiling and if he can sharpen up at boxes, he will be a formidable force for all. Drawn in three, ‘Sorrel’ is much better housed in the middle after a tricky draw in the earlier rounds and the stage looks set for a big performance from Pat Buckley’s star as a result.
T4 – ROSSHILL NEWS (Owner: Joe & Brendan Long)
The outsider of the sextet but experience won’t be a problem for the son of Good News as he lines out for the 51st time in his career. Indeed, the local runner hasn’t managed to raise a flag thus far, however, was a notable fast finisher in behind the fancied Breaghmore Dice last time out. Has winning form over the six-bend trip and will be flying come the business end, however, will require plenty of luck early doors in his bid to cling on to coattails before delivering his customary strong finish. Must negotiate a tricky draw in four and hope for some traffic thereafter.
T5 – BREAGHMORE DICE (Owner: M.J Corrigan)
The in-form finalist as we arrive at the final hurdle. The son of Ballymac Cashout boasts some incredible form to his name and has rediscovered that form in the past couple of weeks with a 29.95 return in round two, before following that up with a 30.23 success last time out. This tracker without doubt has all the tools to take home gold for his much respected connections, however, he has drawn the short straw in trap five and this is a massive obstacle to overcome for a greyhound that is zero from two when donning orange. That said, he should have too much for Rosshill News on his immediate inner, so a clear passage is expected, and this could be the night where he breaks his ‘hoodoo’ from five. ‘Dice’ has massive claims and it would be unwise to rule out the most in-form tracker coming into the decider.
VERDICT– In what is an exceptional line-up, which is fitting of the generous sponsorship, the selection is the up and coming Ballymac Sorrel in trap three. Pat Buckley’s charge is much better housed in three and is arguably the fastest greyhound in the race on raw ability. His 29.91 opening round win is unrivaled, and he has yet to finish outside of the first two in seven starts thus far. There is no doubt that the fawn needs to get to grips with his starting, however, it looks only a matter of time before the penny drops in that respect. As a result, he gets the vote to make it count and take home the brilliant €9,000 first prize. Of his rivals, Breaghmore Dice will benefit from the withdrawal of Epic Ace and should have plenty of room to maneuver early on, while Magical Mag is also expected to travel well and make the podium.
******
NEVERSEENDALIKES CAN LAND ON FAYA STAKE
Kindly sponsored by the ‘On Faya’ kennels, the final of the On Faya A2/A3 Bitch Stake serves as the supporting act to the Connacht Derby and there is a fantastic €3,500 on offer to the winner.
This is a very competitive decider with the majority of runners boasting strong claims of landing the spoils, however, it is Neverseendalikes that gets the narrow vote after a brilliant semi final victory. On that occasion, the Owen McKenna-trained bitch led from trap-to-line in 28.87 and she looks to have really taken to the Galway circuit after a decent performance in round one. To add to her claims, she has drawn the red jacket and is very well housed to take ownership of the rails and make-all. A beautifully bred daughter of Droopys Sydney and Susie Sapphire, she is still very inexperienced so there is every chance she will improve further, which could prove ominous for her rivals. Of said rivals, She Did It wasn’t too far away in terms of the clock last week. Owned by MJ Corrigan, this lady has bags of experience but that was indeed a career best last time out and she too has a favourable pitch in three. If repeating her scorching 3.24 sectional from the semis, she is sure to dispute early doors and she is very strong down the back, which makes her a big player in this contest. On the outside, Grace And Laura will also carry plenty of support. Trained by Colin Daly, the daughter of Jacob Tashadelek is the most consistent runner in the lineup having broken 29-seconds in both rounds thus far and she is perfectly drawn as the sole wide runner in the decider. A winner of three from her fifteen starts, she will need to nestle into a favourable position early but if doing so, she will be bang in contention thereafter. One of the eye-catchers of this stake has been Pat Buckley’s Glengar Delilah. The youngster of the line-up as a May pup, this lady won her opening round assignment in 29.25 and she repeated that performance in the semis, albeit when only managing third position to advance. That said, she is the up and coming runner in the lineup and should she negotiate a tricky berth in five, can have a say. The remaining two runners are the early paced Brickhill Fayla and Slipalong Dew. The former is a popular local runner that possesses massive early speed and is a possible leader, while the latter has tipped along nicely throughout this stake without managing to raise a flag in the earlier rounds. Both are seen to be the outsiders in the contest, however, track knowledge will not be an issue and it would be unwise to rule out as a result.
SAM TO REMAIN UNBEATEN
Race two will see €800 go down for decision in the final of the ‘Book Your Trials Online A7/A8 525’.
There is a very hot favourite on display in this contest as PJ Tynan’s Stonepark Sam aims to defend his unbeaten record in the event. The June 22’ son of Burgess Bucks has accumulated a nineteen length winning margin in his two runs to date and it would come as a major shock should he not come out on top from trap three. Should there be any upsets, Candys Widget looks best placed to take advantage.
TONY CAN OVERCOME TOUGH DRAW
There is a handsome €1,100 on offer in the final of the ‘Bet On The Tote A5/A6 525’ and Ballyhale Tony gets the vote to come out on top.
Owned by Aidan Mannion, Ballyhale Tony won his semi final assignment in 29.52 and he showed a fine turn of early speed on that occasion, suggesting he may well have too much for his rivals early doors. Drawn in five, the June pup would have much preferred a berth closer to the rails, however, a fast start can see him clear his inside rivals. Lissatouk Pearl serves as the main threat in trap two.