Sevenheads reverts to two bends
The sprint event has attracted a high class entry and the first round will be run over tomorrow and Saturday nights.
Graham Holland’s Sevenheads goes in the concluding heat of the round where the opposition includes John Linehan’s Droopys Sastre.
Sevenheads Bay was being geared for the Southern Sprint at Youghal until a late change of plan saw him go into the Laurels draw – with happy conclusions.
There is a very interesting clash between two of the star sprinters of last season, Carlows Pride and Shaneboy Nadal in Heat 6 while the big names in tomorrow’s heats include Three One Three, Kilmoney Paul, Ballymac Mitsy and the Irish Sprint Cup runner-up Yes Boss.
While on the subject of Curraheen Park, new ground will be broken when a trial stake for the English Derby will be run at the track, with similar races to be run at Shelbourne Park and Harold’s Cross.
Known as the Williamhill.com Greyhound Derby Win & You’re In Trial Stakes will carry a winner’s prize of €500, with free entry (worth £250) to the Wimbledon classic.
The date for the Cork qualifier has yet to be finalised but the HX event will be on April 5, while Shelbourne may stage theirs two days earlier.
This week will end on a high note with the National Greyhound Awards Presentations taking place in Limerick’s Strand Hotel on Sunday afternoon.
Speculation is rife regarding the destination of the five awards but all will be revealed when those envelopes are opened on Sunday. Tickets for the function are still available at €30 each from the Sales Centre on 1890 269 969.
I hear that a busload with up to fifty supporters will be travelling from Lixnaw to support College Causeway. I hope they are not disappointed!
But back to the racing side of things and what a weekend it promises to be. Shelbourne will, of course, be the focus of attention with the second round of the Tote Gold Cup promising quite fantastic action.
The opening heat is a real mouth-warmer with the two fastest first round winners Thurlesbeg Joker and Fatboyz Nodrog due to clash but it is complicated by the presence of heat winners Tyrur Bucko and Tyrur Giovanni, not to forget Oran Classic and Ballymac Tipp.
It will be interesting to see how the layers bet on this one! Larry Dunne’s Fane Basher will be a strong favourite for the second heat but it will be worth watching Beaming Dilemma here.
The Guinness Trophy winner ran a blinder in the first round when only beaten a short head by Fane and their re-match is awaited with interest.
Owen McKenna’s Pablo Supreme looks ideally housed in trap six in Heat 3 and can lead home Tranquil Time, while the fourth heat brings together Colorful Champ, Almost Chilli and Da Hatter and this should be a real thriller.
By the way the supporting Open 750 on Saturday could be the six bend race of the year.
All our top stayers are entered while Dooey Shaw is a very interesting contender after her great start to her staying career at Thurles. One not to miss.
Talking of interesting racing, the Mike Cronin Readymix Juvenile Classic commences at Tralee tomorrow and the sixty strong entry looks as good as this event has ever attracted.
All ten heats are being run tomorrow night and such a programme should attract a massive attendance. Most of the top kennels in the country are represented and one suspects there will be a few real gems unveiled over the next few weeks.
Saturday’s meeting will include the final of the Cahirciveen Rowing Club Buster while the supporting card includes a couple of opens and a terrier race!
Racing will be staged at Galway tonight instead of tomorrow when the Magners League game between Connacht and Glasgow will have an 8pm start. By the way, Galway will revert to their three nights a week schedule from Thursday, March 18th.
Finally, a reminder that BBC2 Northern Ireland (Sky 142) will be broadcasting a live one hour programme from Drumbo Park this evening between 9 and 10pm There will be three live races shown as well as a few recorded contests.
