Clean bill of health for Laurels semi-finalists

Just two days to the semi-finals of the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park and, thankfully, still no negatives emanating from any of the kennels involved.

Hopefully it will remain thus and twelve dogs will go to traps for the semis fit and ready to do themselves full justice.

Ballymac Vic, of course, remains the hot favourite to win the classic but nothing can be taken for granted in a competition which is packed with such stunning early pace and a few strong stayers also. Curraheen patrons can look forward to two terrific Saturday programmes.

Details of final night on Saturday week have been released and the eight supporting opens advertised are: €1,300 Consolation Laurels and €750 to the winner opens over 525, Bitch 525, Puppy 525 (Sept ‘10), 525 Hurdle, 550, 575 and 750. Entries close on Monday.

By the way, there will be a very interesting Jerry Hennerty Memorial unraced stake run over the two Saturdays and among the interesting contenders is the exciting prospect Graigues Kaino which has trialled in 18.73 at Shelbourne and 28.70 at Curraheen. Drawn against him in the heat is John Linehan’s Droopys Adelaide but there are a number of other very strong looking puppies in action in what should be a very interesting competition.

Before we leave Curraheen, a reminder again of the “side attractions” scheduled for the weekend. On Saturday there will be a “Battle of the Celebrity Commentators” with the winner donating the prize to a nominated charity as well as a Best Dressed Couple award which will have a winner’s prize of €1,500 shopping voucher for Wilton Shopping Centre.

Then on Monday night there will be the Red Mills Greyhound Forum which will be broadcast live on RTE News Now which is available on rte.ie, on Saorview and on RTE apps between 8 and 9 pm. One change to the panel sees Jimmy Barry Murphy taking the place of John Linehan.

Questions can still be forwarded to [e-mail] while a limited number of tickets are still available up to today from the same address.

The Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger will follow at Limerick immediately after the Laurels and Skywalker Puma’s 28.00 trial last weekend really set up this classic. There will be further bookable official trial sessions on Saturday and Saturday week between 5.30 and 6 pm.

Entries for the €25,000 St Leger will close on Tuesday week, October 23rd, at 12 noon and it is hoped that the entries will start to flow in next week. There will be a Trial Stake run over the 550 distance on Friday next with the winner earning €350 and free entry to the classic.

There will be a fundraiser for Limerick Show Society tomorrow and then for Kilkisheen Church Restoration Fund on Saturday. Then next week there will be a meeting for Nolan School of Dancing on Friday and a very large meeting in aid of St Gabriel’s School & Centre on Saturday.

The Catunda Harry Munster Puppy Cup was put back a week and entries will now close on Tuesday next at 12 noon. This is a 48 dog event confined to November ‘10 whelps or later and carries a winner’s prize of €8,000. It is hoped that more than the current 24 entries can be received for such a prestigious event.

There will again be no major competition in progress at Shelbourne on Saturday but there will be the usual classy open programme. The final of the Night of Stars Open 750 will be run and Dolores Ruth has withdrawn her smashing bitch Razldazl Marilyn due to a stress fracture. A sub will run but this is going to be a terrific race with Declan Byrne’s White Soks Rocks bidding to repeat his excellent semi-final run against the likes of Oneco Cool and Future Boy.

The delayed Michael Fitzpatrick Memorial Newbridge Oaks will close on Monday at noon. This is for 48 bitches with a winner’s prize of €8,000. Also commencing at Newbridge next Friday will be the €450 Gain Feeds Select Stake Trial Stake which will also carry free entry into the €13,000 to the winner event at Kilcohan Park. Galway will also be staging a Trial Stake on Friday next and they are seeking entries. By the way, there will be no racing at Galway on Saturday week due to the Heineken Cup game between Connacht and Harlequins.

Mention of Kilcohan Park, details have been announced of the Noel Ryan Tree Surgeon Inter Track Stake which will see qualifiers run at Waterford, Youghal, Enniscorthy, Thurles, Clonmel and Kilkenny with the six winners contesting the Grand Final in Kilcohan on Saturday, November 17th, the same night as the Gain Feeds Select Stakes final. The event is for A3 races (no backgraders) and the overall prize will be €1,500 and crystal trophy. The €600 Kilcohan qualifier is listed for October 27th and November 3rd.