Younger generation likely to make mark

BOTH Shelbourne Park and Limerick will play host to a number of Ireland’s finest this evening as the Tote Gold Cup and Roche’s Feeds Oaks commence at the respective venues.

At Shelbourne Park a couple of star names are missing from the entry for the Tote Gold Cup, but it remains a competition of quality. Defending champion De Ex Factor will be fancied to go a long way through the stake, but he will have to deal with some of the younger generation who seem likely to make a splash in the coming months.

Among those are the joint favourites with Paddy Power, Razldazl George and Bling Bling Buzz. Both greyhounds are relatively lightly raced and have plenty to prove, but there is no doubting their potential.

They are closely followed in the betting by a number of others under the age of two and a half including Judicial Academy, Allowdale Prince, Colorful Fox, Slippery Bob and Cabra Legend.

Bling Bling Buzz is the first of the outright favourites into action in Heat 2 and he is thrown in at the deep end, with Modern Man, Joey Jojo Junior, Razldazl Lord and Tyrur Brian to compete with. Indeed if Bling Bling fails to make one of his better starts, he could easily exit the competition.

Razldazl George faces a less difficult task in the final heat, but he too can’t afford any mistakes. Tyrur Lohan and Christmas Box are the clear dangers to Razldazl George, but one suspects this will go to the favourite.

Conor and PJ Fahy have a strong team headed by the likes of Tyrur Domingo, Tyrur O Gorman and Tyrur Carey. Of the three Tyrur Carey has the best draw in Heat 4 where he will be amongst the leading fancies along with Slippery Bob.

Tyrur Domingo faces a tricky draw on the fence in Heat 6, but he would have too much ammunition for his rivals, while Tyrur O Gorman is one of a number of greyhounds with big claims in Heat 7. He takes on defending champ De Ex Factor and Broadstrand Lad.

The Fahy team are also represented by Tyrur Henry in the opening heat and is certainly one with claims. General Dogsbody, Jonny Whitesox, Razldazl Barack and Fatboyz Tyson also line out in what is a fascinating contest.

Leger finalist Judicial Academy looks sure to have a big say in Heat 3 where his rivals include Tolerton Crasher, Rockchase Zico, Quick Lee and Razldazl Broadway.

The Roches Feeds Oaks will also provide some enthralling action at Limerick in the coming weeks. Tonight the card consists of all 12 opening round heats.

As with the Tote Gold Cup, there will be plenty of young talent on view. Mozzletoff falls into this category and she will be a warm favourite to emerge triumphant in Heat 7. If repeating the sort of form she was in at the back end of 2010 she could go a long way in the competition.

Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Lefanta has been mixing it with the boys and should appreciate the return to female company in Heat 2 while another worth noting is Dolores Ruth’s 2010 Oaks finalist Razldazl Alice in the following heat.

Another Oaks finalist last year, Brian King’s Shelbourne Dawn should have the ability to lead them home in Heat 4 while the third season Borna Del can take the opening heat for Michael Dwan.

Racing apart, there will also be huge interest in multi-venue Benefit run this evening in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland.

Ten tracks will take part and there will be all sorts of fund-raising ventures at Curraheen Park, Dundalk, Galway, Limerick, Mullingar, Newbridge, Shelbourne, Thurles, Tralee and Waterford.

Those that can make it to the bookies in the early afternoon can view Paul Hennessy’s Group Skater attempt to successfully defend his Ladbrokes Golden Jacket crown at Crayford. The race is due to take place at 12.39pm and despite a tough draw, the veteran tracker looks likely to have a big say in the outcome.