Skywalker Queen gets the go-ahead for Champion Stakes

FOLLOWING her brave victory in Sunday’s Boylesports International at Dundalk, Skywalker Queen was yesterday confirmed a definite runner in the Boylesports Champion Stakes which will commence at Shelbourne on Saturday night.

Matt O’Donnell fears the bitch may come in season but her name will be in the draw when it is made at lunchtime today. But what a task Shelbourne manager Declan Carey faces as he has to select the 18 top contenders from entry of almost forty.

Martin White’s English Derby third Wise Thought is the solitary UK challenger but he won’t have things his own way in this two-run €40,000 to the winner competition. The other entries include

Shelbourne Aston, Accordello, Cash Dream, Headleys Bridge, Oakfront O Seven, Shaneboy Lee, Starlight Shiraz, Fatboyz Nodrog, Christmas Box, Bellewood Prince, Tip And Tip, Archaton Pine, Tyrur Liz, Tyrur Bomber, Tyrur Giovanni, Fane Basher, Broadacres Turbo, Riverside King, Barefoot Bryan, Barefoot Bolt, Droopys Noel, Slip The Lark, Almost Chilli, Mardocs Foster, Corporate Attack, Faypoint Man, Advantage Johnny, Oran Classic, Blackstone Gene, Slick Sioux, Ballymac Bondi, Freddy Mac, Castlehill Pat and Urney Twins.

Entries close for the two bend classic, Dundalk’s Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup, this morning and the draw will be made at noon. This 400 yard event is for 72 dogs and some 66 names were in the book by yesterday afternoon.

Among those is the Jim Morrissey trained Carlows Pride which remains unbeaten after nine sprint contests.