Tyrur Enda the one to beat
The three-run format has worked very well for this competition in contrast to the original one-off invitation. The big talking point last week was the defeat of the hot favourite Tyrur Enda but PJ Fahy’s dog will be very difficult to beat in the final.
A noted early pacer, Enda missed the start last weekend and did well to run Kieran Lennon’s Jonny Whitesox to a length. If the favourite gets away to his normal fast start then he will take a lot of beating. His main early task will be to get the better of his inside neighbours Beaming Dilemma and Leeview Jet in the early yards while Jonny Whitesox will also be going up fast on the outside.
Both Thurlesbeg Joker and Krug Ninety Five will be running on very strongly in the second half of the race and must very much enter calculations.
However, the balance of form suggests that Tyrur Enda will add this valuable prize to the Hennerty Laurels already won at Curraheen recently.
The other big race of the weekend will be the final of the Oliver Hawkes Memorial Open 575 at Curraheen on Saturday and the trap draw has thrown this one really wide open with likely favourite Definate Opinion drawn in four.
Pat Guilfoyle’s dog is a real inside specialist and he will need to make a very slick start from four if he is to clear the bend, especially with fast starting Headleys Mentor in the red jacket. However, if Definate Opinion can avoid crowding in the first half of the race his strength should carry him through.
Yeah Me has been running very well in the competition without winning and is a strong finisher while the two outside runners St Louis Spirit and Hare Mack will have buckets of support. They are very strong from halfway and will be poised to take full advantage of any trouble on the inside.
The next big stake at Curraheen will be the Beamish & Murphys A3 (No Bg) 525 which is for 36 dogs and a winner’s prize of €3,000. It closes on Tuesday and starts on Saturday week.
The new Limerick Stadium has been very much in the public glare over the past five weeks and it will remain the focus for the remainder of the year. The Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger will close on Tuesday next and the first round will be run over Friday and Saturday of next week.
Liam Kennedy reports that the entries have been coming in steadily for the classic and among two of the leading fancies will be the Owen McKenna trained brothers Farley Blitz and Farley Turbo.
Both have been out of action since the Derby at Shelbourne but they are bang in-form on the evidence of their trial spins last Friday night. Blitz clocked a sizzling 28.19 while Turbo went around in 28.53.
Tom O’Neill’s young dog Dream Walker went around in 28.21 on Saturday evening while the great bitch Skywalker Queen clocked 28.54. In a 300 yard sprint trial the Jim Morrissey trained Dromore Dazzler did 16.29. There will be a special trial session (bookable) for Leger entries tomorrow evening between 5 and 5.45pm.
In the midst of a very dark period there were some shining lights last weekend with Limerick and Curraheen Park attracting very big crowds and very welcome large Tote turnovers last weekend. On Friday both tracks turned €40,000 while on Saturday Limerick did €31,000 and Curraheen €28,000. With both tracks having good meetings again this weekend it is to be hoped that somewhat similar figures can be produced.
The Dublin tracks continue to produce very healthy weekend figures but the midweek fixtures remain a problem. The opposition from major games at the Aviva Stadium and Croke Park has become a live danger to both tracks.
The Christmas rush has now got underway and we can expect improved week night performances from now to the festival. Of course both tracks will have high profile weekend meetings between now and Christmas with the Tote Gold Collar and Ted Hegarty Marathon coming up at Harold’s Cross while the Comerford Cakes National Puppy Stake starts at Shelbourne next Thursday.
Mention of the Comerford Cakes, this event closes on Monday morning. Carrying a winner’s prize of €15,000 and confined to December ‘08 or younger, the heats will be run on Thursday and Saturday.
Another little bonus at the Cross is the Pick 6 which is guaranteed to €12,000 tomorrow and should attract a few extra quid into the system.
