Full resumption on the cards
The IGB yesterday confirmed that all their venues, with the exception of Mullingar and Youghal, hope to be able to resume from this evening. However it was later announced that Mullingar would not be able to race tonight and the Enniscorthy meeting has also been cancelled.
However, hopes are high Shelbourne Park will be ready for racing this evening and the outlook is also promising at Harold’s Cross where their major postponed meeting is scheduled for tomorrow.
Thurles has confirmed that the Sales on Saturday will proceed and, in the event of the track not being fit, the auction will go ahead without trials.
It is a very important weekend in the build-up to Christmas with major competitions in progress at Limerick, Shelbourne, Harold’s Cross, Thurles and Tralee, not to mention a huge number of parties and celebrations at all the developed stadia.
A major talking point will be the news from the Budget that the Government Funding will be cut by 3.3 per cent for the next twelve months. It is certainly a major improvement on the massive 13 per cent cuts of the past two years but it is a further €400,000 lost to the industry and that on top of an estimated €1 million loss of income this year.
The good news to emerge was that there will be a new approach to betting tax and this will hopefully provide a situation whereby there will be a guaranteed funding scheme in the future.
Without this funding the entire prizemoney structure would collapse and the sport/industry would be decimated. The importance of both the greyhound and horse industries to the country’s economy is well recognised by the Departments of Agriculture and Finance and this is reflected in the somewhat tender handling of the Horse & Greyhound Fund in the Budget.
But back to the racing front and the big race of the weekend is the final of the Comerford Cakes National Puppy Stake at Shelbourne. It promises to be a really intriguing race with the big three of Deerfield Music, Farloe Force and Mozzletoff expected to battle it out.
Semi-final running would suggest that Farloe Force can win it for Owen McKenna and Paul Ellis team but he simply must clear Deerfield and Mozzletoff to the bend. Indeed, it looks an absolute certainty that whatever is in front on the second bend will claim the winner’s prize of €13,000. An interesting statistic is that the runner from trap six has won this final every year since 2004 and Boxie is the wearer of the stripes this time. He must be rated as must Bling Bling Joe and Beaming Therapy but I have a suspicion that the Marie Gilbert trained bitch Mozzletoff can clear the bend in the black jacket and race on to victory.
Hopefully there will be no fog or frost at Limerick on Saturday night where the semi-finals of the Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger will clear the way for the televised final (RTE 2) on Saturday week. Again we have two very interesting contests with final spots sure to be hard earned.
Despite his frustrating habit of walking out of traps, Farley Turbo has huge pace and would win this race given a reasonable start. Representing the McKenna and Ellis team, he could get a lovely run up the inside rail and is taken to lead home Hare Mack, Ballyhannon and Whatsupjack.
The second semi promises to be the race of the classic with each of the six contestants entitled to strong consideration. Best drawn in one is Westmead Bolt but he has hotpots Judicial Academy and Beaming Dilemma drawn in the middle and the so progressive Confident Nestor in five. Add Skywalker Queen and Tranquil Time to the mix and you have a race of all races!
It is quite a weekend at Limerick where tonight’s card is a fundraiser for the Retired Greyhound Trust and there is also a Buster for Hospital/ Herbertstown GAA while tomorrow’s meeting is a benefit for Claughaun GAA Club. In addition to the Leger semis on Saturday the card will be a fundraiser for Feenagh/Kilmeedy.
Tomorrow night is a very important one with the Harold’s Cross programme including the heats of both the Ted Hegarty Marathon and the Tote Gold Collar while at Tralee the semi-finals of the Greyhound & Petworld Kingdom Derby will be run. Then on Saturday it will be the turn of the postponed Track Bookmakers Champion Bitch Stake at Thurles.
Meanwhile the final of the Beamish & Murphy’s Stake tops Saturday’s card at Curraheen and here a very large crowd is anticipated with six Cork pubs nominating the finalists. The pubs involved in the final are Baker Street Pub; Desmond’s Bar, Ovens; the Outpost Bar, Bishopstown; the Gerard Griffin; Healy’s Bar, Ballincollig and Cotton Ball, Mayfield.
The favourite is Da Rebel Champ and victory for him would generate some fair celebrations in Desmond’s Bar in Ovens afterwards! It is more sponsorships such as this that will help the greyhound industry to overcome the economic difficulties.
