Inside draw can swing it for Billy

The 2012 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels comes to a climax at Curraheen Park tonight and the Graham Holland-trained Knockglass Billy can land the prestigious trophy for owner Martin Murphy, of Ladysbridge.

A dog equally adept over two and four bends, he possesses the kind of brilliant early speed which saw him sent off second favourite for the final of the Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk earlier in the year. He began his Laurels quest by setting the standard in the first round with a terrific trap-to-line success in 28.15. While he hasn’t been able to replicate that performance in three subsequent outings, he has hinted that a return to that sort of form is imminent and he has the perfect trap from which to produce it tonight.

His record in the red jacket is exemplary, winning five of his eight starts from the rails draw and four from five over this trip. While he is not always the sharpest of trappers — he can be, as evidenced by his 3.29 opening split in round one — he possesses stunning acceleration to the bend.