Kildallon Maid can claim place in Casey final

WITH Shelbourne Aston going crashing out of the competition last weekend, Kildallon Maid and Headleys Bridge are now battling it out for favouritism in the John J Casey Open 575 at Shelbourne Park and tonight the pair both have outstanding claims of reaching next week’s decider.

Kildallon Maid lines out in the opening heat and her incredible power from the second turn could prove decisive in her clash with the in-form Oran Classic. The latter has been absolutely scorching to the turn and has yet to suffer defeat over the 575yd trip.

That statistic could come to an end this evening however, as Kildallon Maid is impossible to oppose on current form.

Again Oran Classic looks likely to lead, but this could leave Kildallon Maid with plenty of room on the fence to assume a threatening position before they enter the back. Once doing so, expect Larry Dunne’s superstar to have too much ammunition for her rival.

Headleys Bridge has yet to win a race in 2009, but the Dery finalist certainly seems to be finding form at the right time. He may have been overhauled by Kildallon Maid in last weekend’s second round, but in defeat he did little wrong. Tonight he can overcome a tricky draw on the fence in Heat 2.

Trained by Ed O’Sullivan for Nick Cotter, Headleys Bridge can make his early speed count and he is expected to show the way up the inside. If leading around the opening corner it would be difficult to imagine him being overhauled for a second week running.

Titan Tyrone may emerge as the main threat in the striped jacket, while

Accordello and Tip And Tin will be running on strongly but it looks a winning opportunity for Headleys Bridge.

Just about anything could happen in the third qualifier, the most open race imaginable. Much depends on how the speed merchants Kilkenny Lonjack and Blackstone Gene perform at traprise. Both are inclined to miss the kick and if they do they could find themselves with an uphill climb.

Jemmy Doodlebeag, Tyrur Laurel and Compass Smash are all capable of a fast start and any of this trio could set the pace. It is a wide open contest, but a tentative vote goes to Kilkenny Lonjack. Should he make one of his better starts he could be in position to strike as they enter the back.

At Curraheen Park this evening Moorstown Miguel, the fastest of the heat winners, looks the one to beat in the Guardwell Safe Co 575 Stakes final.

He created a favourable impression when posting a 31.42 run last week and is open to further improvement with an inside draw.

At Clonmel tomorrow evening there is a high quality card featuring the opening round of the Market Kennels A1 Puppy Stake and Charity Jack Open Bitch Stake, but the feature is the third round of the IGB Open Unraced 525.

Again all eyes will be on Express Rock and Magna Flintoff, although there are many more potential champions in the line up.