New Shelbourne schedule kicks-in next week
There will also be significant changes to the racing programme at Shelbourne with next Wednesday ushering in a new weekly schedule. In the future there will be just ten races every Wednesday with eleven races on Thursdays and twelve on the Saturdays. It is a pretty smart move with the same number of races per week but the extra race on the main night should generate much needed extra revenue.
Back to the racing and of immediate interest is the Boylesports final on Saturday where it is slightly surprising to find Faypoint Man as the clear favourite with some firms. His lack of consistency at the start has cost him dearly in recent outings and he could be adrift of Fatboyz Nodrog and Shaneboy Lee turning into the back straight.
This is not the type of race where any of the runners can give the rivals a head start as they are virtually all big on stamina. Fatboyz Nodrog is the exception but he has stunning pace to the third bend and, while he is not the strongest stayer, he still maintains a great gallop to the line.
Shaneboy Lee, owned by ten year old Eoghan Kiely, was a revelation last Saturday night and merits considerable respect. He displayed a great combination of early pace and stamina and even the powerful running Faypoint Man couldn’t make up an inch on him from halfway. This fellow looks like being a major player in the coming weeks.
Reigning champion Shelbourne Aston is due a big run and the draw could well work out in his favour. Rule him out at your peril. Then we have the Barefoot pair, Bolt and Bryan. Two very strong runners and if either manages to make a flying start on the night then stand by for a huge run.
This race will act as a major pointer to the forthcoming Derby but so too will some of the supporting races on what is a very strong card. Racing commences at 7.45 and there will be a live programme on RTE 2 between 9 and 10 p.m. A word of warning for people travelling to the meeting – traffic will be heavy in Dublin due to the U2 Concert at Croke Park.
There will be other classic action at Dundalk tomorrow where the second round of the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup will be run. There should be eight cracking races over the flying 400 yard circuit but banker of the evening can be Jim Morrissey’s Carlows Pride in Heat 5.
Big race on the southern circuit will be the Hondo Black Southern Oaks final at Youghal tomorrow. This looks a wide open affair following the elimination of Lady Glenard last week. The run to the bend is going to be absolutely vital but it would be no surprise if Michael O’Riordan’s Bit View Marie just clears the bend and goes on to win.
It will be very much a Ladies’ Night at Youghal and there will be a Best Dressed Lady competition in conjunction with the Oaks final. The competition is being sponsored by Finola Collins in memory of her late mother Ann Power. The prize will be €300 with trophy and flowers and the judges are model Karen Fitzpatrick and Patricia Kearney. There will also be spot prizes for Ladies entering the competition as well as a Champagne Reception.
The final of the Irish & European A3 Tri Distance tops the bill at Curraheen Park on Saturday with the Pat Quirke trained Carriglad Lady the likely favourite to land the prize of €1,700. Saturday’s card will also include the final of the Munster Greyhound Supplies Unraced Stake where Dermot Warren’s Prodigy Playboy looks a likely sort. The semi-finals of the Curraheen Park A2 525 will also be on the card.
Another valuable final due to be run tomorrow is the Ger Canty Opticians A1 575 at Newbridge and here the near five year old Brennans Pride must have a first rate chance of lifting the €4,000 prize for trainer Brendan Murphy and the BPW Syndicate. He is unbeaten in the competition and will be running his 94th race in the final.
The Thurles Fresh Milk Tipperary Cup reaches the semi-final stage at Thurles on Saturday and Cleary Bookmakers have St Louis Spirit as their 5-2 favourite with semi-final rivals Chicken Supper 7-2, Serene Digital 5-1 and Daleys Buzz 11-2 next in their lists. It really is a most competitive second semi and survival is very much the name of the game.
The Galway Festival will be the big sporting event next week and the local track will be joining in the fun. History will be made on Tuesday when the first Greyhound Sales will be staged at the track (trials 9 am) and racing will then be staged from Wednesday through to Saturday. Entries are required for a number of open races on Thursday night over 525, 575, 700 and 810 as well as a number of 700 yard races during the week for a variety of grades.
Entries close at Clonmel on Sunday for the 48 dog Track Supporters Open Unraced Stake while closing next Thursday is the 48 dog A2 550. Both events carry a winner’s prize of more than €3,000.
