Spirit Derby plunge looking justified
While College Causeway is firmly at the top of the betting lists with virtually all firms, Shaneboy Lee is a close second favourite at 7-1 and St Louis Spirit next at a best priced 8-1. Both Limerick dogs have been running out of their skin and are serious players in this Derby.
Whereas Shaneboy Lee had posted his credentials when contesting the Champion Stakes, we had to wait until the owners had plunged at 100-1 before St Louis Spirit was unleashed on the unsuspecting Dublin layers in the first round of the Derby.
A major bonus is that as a genuine fast starting wide seed, he is almost guaranteed a trap six draw as long as he remains in the Derby and that is one obvious reason why he has to be included in any short list! Trainer Jerry Griffin and owners Spike Murphy and Teacher Browne have a fresh dog in top form and the omens are looking good. Saying all that, he has a mighty tough test in the third round where he must face Accordello in Heat 5 but also in there are Mid West Blue, Lady Glenard, Mecano and Tip And Tin, all outstanding trackers. This could be the race of the Derby.
Heat 6 is not far behind it with Shaneboy Lee in the stripes and opposed by his Champion Stakes conqueror Fatboyz Nodrog, the bang in-form Laurels winner Cashen Legend and the early pace inside trio of Magna Venturer, Riverside King and Archaton Pine.
The dog that is becoming a hotter property with each outing is Scolari Me Daddy, owned by the most attractive bunch of owners in the business. The ten strong Glamour Paws Syndicate are on a real roller-coaster with their first ever dog and he looks the real deal. You won’t be trading at very generous odds in Heat 7 but this fellow looks special.
College Causeway has Mesedo Blue and Ballymac Ruso among his rivals in Heat 8 but the six box is ideal for Mike McKenna’s dog. His kennel companion Slip The Lark looks the night’s banker in Heat 2, while Faypoint Man will be another banker for most in Heat 4.
Meanwhile the Derby Plate, for dogs eliminated from the first two rounds, kicks off at Shelbourne tonight and among the entries are the American racer Kiowa Myth and UK trained Thurlesbeg Joker. This is a high class Plate competition and there should be a smashing crowd to enjoy the eight heats.
It is festival time at Tralee this week with the track getting into the ‘Roses’ spirit as racing will be staged on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
The Friday card includes the finals of the Paddy Byrne Memorial and the Con Murphy Memorial and Chris Houlihan must have a massive chance of landing the €4,500 Byrne prize with either of the Cashen litter brothers Zig or Pedro.
Then on Sunday the special Gala Roses Matinee meeting will be staged with the Roses present and the feature race will be the final of the Pembroke Construction Rose of Tralee Stake where well drawn Confident Sky could be the winner of the €3,500 prize.
Sunday’s meeting will be a huge family occasion with all sorts of attractions for the children and the action can be enjoyed by all online fans as there will be Live Streaming and Wagering available on www.igb.ie.
Tomorrow’s meeting at Curraheen is a benefit for Fermoy GAA and then on Saturday it will be the turn of the semi-finals of both the AIB Bank A1 525 and the Cork GOBA Presidents A3 Stake. The finals of these events will be run on Saturday week and the Curraheen team are planning to make that a real party night.
There will be a particular emphasis on the kids as Liz Igoe explains: “We have the two superb finals and a good supporting card for the majority of the racegoers. But we are going to make this a special treat for the kids before they head back to school.
“We will have lots of activities for them and it will be suitable for all ages. There will be clowns, balloon artists, face painters and a great magic show upstairs. We’ll also have goody bags for the kids but the important thing will be coming early as the goody bags are only available while stocks last!”
There is a big meeting at Enniscorthy tonight with the final of the Gain & Supporters Club Leinster Oaks backed up by a high class supporting card. Unfortunately Rossa Baby didn’t make it through to the final after being knocked over in Monday’s semi but John Kiely reports that the bitch’s injuries are restricted to a few cuts on her web.
