Broadstrand good value at 6/4 in Tyrur heat

THE Joe Dunne Memorial Puppy Stake will be run as a 24 dog event at Shelbourne but the traditional early season classic trial has plenty of quality and the four heats when added to the semi-finals of the Tyrur McGuigan Open 575 will make Saturday’s card at headquarters another high class affair.

The two big established names in the draw are Seamus Graham’s Puppy Derby finalist Swift Marathon and Noreen O’Donovan’s strong finishing Puppy Derby Plate winner Noirs Buachaill but lightly race puppies such as Droopys Jet and Subway Gerry will command huge interest.

The Tyrur semi-finals promise to be real crackers with John Linehan’s Broadstrand Lad looking particularly good value at 6-4 for the opening heat while the second heat could be a real cliff-hanger with Croom Star, Tyrur Domingo, Tibetan Skies and Martinstown Snow occupying the four inside boxes.

Also starting on Saturday night is the Vetsearch Recharge Open 525 at Limerick and trainer Paul Hennessy looks to have a very strong hand with the likes of Colorful Champ, Barefoot Machine, Airforce Roger and Airforce Newyork representing him. Other names sure to figure include Calling Spice, Saleen Tompajoe, Slick Seattle, Ocean Crash and Boxer Princess.

Not surprisingly, entries have been pretty slow arriving for the Guinness Trophy which will commence on Saturday week at Curraheen Park but the early signs are that the quality will be right up there with previous years. The name that stands out among the early entries is that of Sede Vacante, a dog that ran with distinction in the Laurels but now qualifies for A1.

Other entries include Oakfront Aga, Soho Storm, Dower Phanter and Fleetwood Nick while the deadline will be Tuesday next. The Guinness is for 36 A1 (Bg) trackers and one would expect that number to be easily surpassed.

Down at Tralee tomorrow’s card will include the final of the Kerry GAA A2 570. There will be no racing at the track on Saturday, March 3rd as the Supporters Club will be staging their Annual Awards night at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel. Next major stake coming up is the John and Mary “Killeacle” Dowling Memorial A1 570 on February 3rd.

The Youghal folk will be celebrating tomorrow with the presentation of the Annual Awards during the meeting. There will be free admission for all and complimentary finger food provided by the Track Supporters’ Club. The trophies for the various awards are sponsored by John O’Brien from Midleton.

The 2011 Youghal Awards Winners are: Public Trainer: Helen Wadsworth; Private Trainers: David Whelan & Pat Kiely; Owner: Helen Wadsworth; Breeder: Noel Fleming; Honorary Supporters: Michael O’Connell & Finbar Grindle; Greyhound of the Year: Seaview Rosie

The National Meeting Festival at Clonmel is almost on top of us and the track festival is motoring along nicely. This evening’s meeting will feature the first round heats of the John Mitchell Open 525, the second round of the Sporting Press A1 575 and the semis of the Park Hotel A5 550.

Then on Sunday the big guns will be in action in the semis of the Festival Open Unraced, the Broadway Pet Foods Open Bitch, the O’Reilly’s Pharmacy Open 550, the Rockchase Bullet at Stud A3 Bitch and the Minella Hotel N4.

By the way, the schedule for the Monday and Tuesday nights of the Festival has been released and they will constitute two magnificent nights of racing. The schedules are:

Monday, January 30th: Finals of O’Reilly’s Pharmacy Open 550, Shaneboy Lee @ Stud A2 Puppy, Park Hotel A5 550, Hotel Minella A4, Rockchase Bullet @ Stud A3 Bitch, Dalcash Dvinsky A3 Puppy and Open 790 Consolation.

Tuesday, January 31st: Finals of Festival Open Unraced, Broadway Pet Food Open Bitch, John Mitchell Open 525, Tynwald Open 790, Morans Bar Open 300 and Sporting Press A1 575. Entries are now being accepted for the 18 dog €1,425 Tynwald Open 790 which starts next Thursday and there will also be a Consolation Final. Racing on the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights of the National Meeting will commence at 7.30 with weigh-in between 6.30 and 7 pm.