Some top class fare on offer at Clonmel
A positive side to things would be the excellent crowd that turned out at Shelbourne on Saturday night last with the upstairs very well populated and a great atmosphere in the middle of January. It was proof positive that if the product is right, then recession or no recession there is a willing audience for our sport.
The fact that open racing at Shelbourne will continue to boast top class prizemoney should guarantee that the ‘cash cow’ of the sport continues to generate the revenue to keep the industry turning over nicely.
For many traditionalists the greyhound season really kicks-off next week with the National Meeting at Clonmel. In the past most of the tracks remained closed until after the completion of the Clonmel Festival — some even waited until after Clounanna — but things have changed totally over the years.
However, thousands will make the pilgrimage to County Tipperary next week for three days of sport up Powerstown Park and some six nights of top class racing — the opening Saturday fixture at Thurles and then the five successive nights at Clonmel.
The way will be cleared this evening for Tuesday’s final of the IGB Open Unraced Stake when the two semis are run at Clonmel. Boggan was probably a trifle fortunate in retaining his unbeaten record in the second round last week but Ken Foley’s youngster is ideally drawn in trap one in the opening heat and can go in again. The Billy Drake and Vincent O’Donovan owned Broadstrand Boy looks a real threat while Jack Meade’s Dalcash Dvinsky and Stephen Bourke’s Mustang Ossie will both carry plenty of support.
Jimmy Ferncombe’s Peggys Way is the unbeaten contestant in the second heat and look sure to qualify but has formidable opposition in Riverside Greg, Nans Pride and Kid Billzer.
Saturday’s meeting features the Pop Gun International meeting at Thurles and no less than eight open contests over all distances from sprint to ultra marathon should guarantee a really cracking evening of sport.
There may be no Joe Dunne Memorial this weekend but the semi-finals of the John J Casey Open 575 should provide plenty of excitement at Shelbourne on Saturday night. There have been plenty of upsets to date in this competition but the form should be settling down at this stage and things might be just a little more predictable on this occasion.
The opening heat looks very much a three dog affair with the early paced Deanridge Fury opposed by Whatsupjack and Accordello. One can visualise an early battle between Deanridge Fury and Whatsupjack and any bumping between them could result in Accordello proving too strong on the run home.
The second heat could see Ardera Power and Three One Three battling for early supremacy ahead of Rough Robinho but all eyes will be focused on the rear to determine the proximity of Sean Mulcahy’s Corporate Attack. He would prefer further but I can still see him pouncing late to snatch another victory.
The other big meeting this weekend is the postponed GOBA Gala programme at Limerick on Saturday. Eleven finals plus the presentation of the Annual Awards should bring in a very healthy attendance. By the way the first round of the Vetsearch International Kennedy Cup will be run on Saturday week and the final of that event will now be run on the Saturday night of Irish Cup weekend, February 27th. Already some 32 names are in the book but it is hoped to have the required 48 in advance of the draw. The first of the six Sales this year at Limerick will be run on March 2nd and entries are still required.
Curraheen Park will stage the opening round of the Guinness Trophy on Saturday night and this event should give the season a nice kick start. By the way, three further stakes will be closing in the near future. Ted Fitzgerald is sponsoring two “Odds On Dog Food” Stakes both for 24 dogs and a winner’s prize of €1,100. The A5 525 will close tomorrow week while the A7 Racedogs will close on Friday, February 12th. Richie O’Regan’s Balintore Brave A2 525 (No Bg) is also a 24 event with a winner’s prize of €1,400 and entries close on Tuesday week, February 9th. Entries are still being accepted for the next sales on Tuesday, February 16th.
Isn’t it amazing how rumours spread in the greyhound game? Last week I was assured that the Mike Cronin Readymix Juvenile Classic would not be happening but that a smaller stake would take its place. Then this week we learn that Cronin’s great event will DEFINITELY be taking place and with a prizefund that is not all that far short of the massive level of recent years.
The event for 48 unraced greyhounds whelped in 2008 will have a prizefund of €38,000 and a winner’s prize of €20,000, maintaining its position as the richest unraced stake in the country. There will also be the €100,000 on offer to the winning trainer if the winner goes on to win the 2010 Irish Derby. But there is a new incentive this year for local dogs… The KGOBA is sponsoring a €1,000 Bonus for the best placed Kerry owned greyhound in the stake but the dog must have run in the Kerry ownership prior to the commencement of the stake. The competition kicks off on Friday, March 5th.
Finally, a brief look at next week’s National Coursing Meeting and the latest ante-post betting issued by Derby sponsors Boylesports:
Boylesports Derby: 6 Adios Alonso; 8 Caesar Music; 9 Lisloose Eoin; 10 High And Mighty, City Deal; 12 Mafi Magic, Kyle Basil; 14 Gaileys Bridge, Likely Treble, Wilton Herald, Mucky Eamonn, Prevelence, Brazing Serpent, Stiff Test, Discipline, Kerry Calling, Colla Aghadown; 20 bar.
Hotel Minella Oaks: 9-2 Newinn All In; 6 Go Nina; 9 Wise Purchase; 10 Chillax Gabriela; 12 Helens Diva, Needham Time; 14 Cearc Ghoir, Class Attraction, Flowerofthelaune, Intense Focus, Shes A Dazzler, Delotti, Lisloose Accord, Razor Scotch; 20 bar.
