Huge quality in Derby entry

Over half the required 144 entries for the Ladbrokes Irish Derby have been received with another four days to go before Saturday’s closing stage.

It now looks pretty certain that the first round will be run over three nights next week at Shelbourne, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Many of the big names have already been entered but the likes of Paul Hennessy, Conor Fahy, Dolores Ruth and Pat Buckley have yet to finalise their teams. There is huge quality in the entry and a rip-roaring classic in assured.

The one disappointing aspect is the almost total lack of a British challenge with Sheffield qualifier Sawpit Sensation the only entry. David Hunt’s dog could go a long way in the classic as he looks an ideal Shelbourne type and will be staying the 550 yards very strongly.

The draw for the classic will be made on Monday morning.

The list of direct entries for the Ladbrokes Irish Derby as of yesterday afternoon is: Laughil Billy (m), Camas Crash, Puddens Lad, Cabra Millie, Kilbarry Rover, Jimmy Boy (w), Johnny Setaside, Cooleyhane Hero, Burberry Buds (w), Subway Ruth, Captain America (w), Quail Hollow, Forest Simon, Beany Tunes (w), Rockchase Bullet, Captain Scolari, Skywalker Puma, Forest Ralph, An Tochar Master, Cian Jamie (m), Melody Lucky, Droopys Cain, Broadstrand Lad, Tynwald Bolt, Late Owl, Katies Quadrigo (w), El Miller, Mikeys Guest, El Clieve (m), Kitemark, Lolos Joe, Lolos Hope, Pagani, Deenside Brae, Sparta Maestro (w), Power Of God, Confident Rankin, Camas (w), Airforce Diva, Airforce Frankie, Devilacare, Fridays Carroll, Ballybough Hawke (m), Sawdust Terry (w), Flandys Ryan, Coolykereen Imp, Tinas Nova, Dusseldorf, Exocet (m), Minefield, Crossfield Star (w), Crossfield Tina, Ballymac Vic, Kokoro.

The Trial Stake winners which have been entered are: Sawpit Sensation (m), Lisnakill Ross (w), Newlawn Tock, Head For Fame, Lemon Velvet, Allen Master, Grayslands Barney, Tibetan Skies, Middlepark Mal, Caretaker Jo, Daretobe Shy (w), Patterdale Rocco, Star Head (m), Locnamon Royal, Stage Gold Glory (w), Ruthless Man, Cooleyhane Hero, Sheepwalk Shaw (m), North Bound (w), Forty Winks (20).

The Harold’s Cross card tomorrow will include the semi-finals of the Greyhound & Pet World Puppy Oaks. Ian Waterworth’s Highview Dolly was a most impressive first round pace setter and she looks a lovely prospect. However, Borna Gem didn’t appear at ease on the track last week and it will be interesting to see how she handles it this time in the second semi.

There was some tremendous action in the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk last weekend and the 48 survivors will go into action in Saturday’s second round. The burden of fastest first round winner will be borne by the Plunkett Matthews owned Ballyhill Sub with a sparkling 21.08 run and he will need another smart start to lead them home.

Johnny O’Sullivan’s Cashen Malouda was another first round star and he would look banker material in Heat 3. One of the clashes of the round could be the meeting of Robert Gleeson’s Kildallon Ranger and Graham Holland’s Knockglass Billy in Heat 2. Expect Holland’s Cambushmore to step up on first round running in Heat 8.

Reigning champion Shoemakers Lad faces a torrid test in Heat 6 where the youthful Tamoshanter and very consistent Piercestown Con will take plenty of beating.

There will be finals tonight and tomorrow at Curraheen and then on Saturday the first round of the Irish & European A2 as well as the new Getting Out Stakes and GOBA Saturday Special.

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There’s a positive air around Youghal these days where there was a huge response to the voluntary clean-up of the track. The final session will take place this evening and all volunteers are requested to turn up for one final time armed with paint brushes for a 7pm start to the work.

The Free Admission is again working extremely well and Tote figures have grown impressively in recent weeks. Thanks are due to Kearney Catering and Youghal Supporters’ Club for their continued support.

The Frightful Flash Kennels and Liam Marks have again agreed to sponsor the Makeshift Southern Oaks which will commence tomorrow week. It will be for 24 bitches and will boast a winner’s prize of €3,000.

The latest regarding the proposed development work at Youghal Track is that the planning discussions are in progress and it is hoped to start the work in the near future.

The semi-finals of the Paddy Byrne Memorial and the Con Murphy Memorial will be run tomorrow at Tralee and we’ll stick with the sponsor’s Ask Patsy for the Byrne second semi, though he wasn’t as impressive as anticipated last week. Oneco Destiny and Dims His Eyes could battle it out in the first heat.

Saturday’s meeting at Tralee will be a real family occasion with Betsy The Tractor going to the dogs in aid of Cancer Research. There will be eleven sponsored races with raffles for valuable prizes including a stay in the Hilton Hotel, New York.

There’s a busy day lined up for Thurles on Saturday with the Sales featuring a catalogue of 107 dogs commencing with trials at 9 am. Then in the evening the semi-finals of the Thurles Fresh Milk Tipperary Cup will head a top class programme.

The Supporters Club’s Festival of Racing will run through the month of August at Waterford with all finals to be run on Saturday, August 25th.

Next week will, of course, be Festival Week at Galway and the Track will race on four nights, Wednesday through to Saturday. Both the Flaherty Markets Corrib Plate A7 and the Oran Majestic A5 look particularly hot competitions and some new stars are emerging.

Saturday’s card at Limerick features the semi-finals of the Limerick Brakes A2 @Quad Distance over 575 yards.

The finals of the Power Of God Open Unraced and the Kilsheelan A3 550 will be run at Clonmel on Sunday. The Peter Cronin trained Montos Kraft is clearly the one to beat in the Unraced after reaching the final unbeaten.