Boylesports warrant credit for colossal bonus for greyhound racing ‘triple crown’

Late last year, when the movement of the dates for the Laurels was first mooted, there was some talk of the possibility of a bonus being put in place to reward any greyhound which could win the newly arranged Curraheen Classic and go on to land the English Derby.

That never materialised, but kudos to bookmaking firm Boylesports, which has stepped in to offer a substantial windfall for any greyhound which wins the Laurels, the Irish Derby, and the Leger.

From the perspective of the greyhound board, it’s a positive, insofar as it highlights the new layout of the racing calendar and the face the three biggest stakes of the year in this country are spread in such a way as to make it more feasible than in the past.

To earn the Derby sponsor’s €250,000 would require another worldly greyhound as the tests are very different, and the tracks equally so. As one handler said, after the conclusion of last year’s Laurels, you need a dog with true open sprinting pace to win that competition. Shelbourne demands speed and stamina, and Limerick requires quite a bit of luck. If you have all of that in one greyhound, forget the lotto, you’ve found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

As has been publicised many times in the past, the changing of the date of the Laurels has not been universally welcomed, and there are still strong concerns that the quality of this field will not match up to previous years. Entries have been slow to come in for this year’s renewal, which begins on Saturday week, but there’s not a lot to be read into that.

There are dedicated Laurels trial sessions (official trials only) this Saturday between 5pm and 6pm. Entries close Tuesday at 10am, and the draw will take place on Wednesday next.

There are three weeks between the final of the stake and the start of the English Derby and I’ve read numerous times and in several places that it’s plenty of time for dogs to take in both competitions.

That’s an entirely subjective viewpoint, particularly if you have an Irish raider, which you may wish to give trials around Wimbledon prior to the start of the competition.

Five runs in hot company around Curraheen, trips to England for trials, and six runs around Wimbledon will take their toll on even the toughest.

If I were a betting man, I’d be inclined to believe the greyhound which wins the upcoming Laurels will not have had the English Derby on his agenda prior to going to Curraheen. But, I’m open to contradiction.

There is no negative to Boylesports offering this colossal bonus for the ‘triple crown’, and they should be thoroughly commended for it, but will it convince owners and trainers to run their charges at Curraheen? I hope so.

Regardless of stance on the new position in the calendar, it’s to the benefit of all that the stake is of the highest quality.

• For logistical reasons, I was unable to be involved in this year’s nominations for the greyhound awards, which might be a good thing, because even deciding on the Dog of the Year is an unenviable task. In almost any year when you have a tremendously impressive Derby winner, he/she would look nailed on for the award — and Laughil Blake certainly fits into that category. The very fact he added Night of Stars victory would seem to bolster his claims, but the competition is stiff.

Boylesports Hero was exceptional in the early part of the year, winning the Produce Stakes and the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial, and it’s a real shame he finished lame in the first round of the Derby.

He, Laughil Blake and everyone’s old favourite, Ballymac Vic, have made the shortlist in the category this year.

The competition is also fierce amongst the bitches, with Newbridge Oaks and Night of Stars winner Leamaneigh Mags, Select Stakes winner Southest Suzie and Oaks heroine Velvet All Jam making the final three.

Crokers Champ, Walshes Hill and Crown Champ, which, curiously, filled the first three place, in that order, in the Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk, are up for the Sprinter of the Year accolade. Quite how you’d separate them, I really don’t know.

In the stayers’ division Barry’s Tea winner Woe Katie is in direct competition with serial finalist and John Kennedy Motors and Clonmel Track Supporters’ Club winner Sidarian Lisa, and Corn Cuchulainn champ Razldazl Pacino. Allowing for a little local bias and the fact she broke the track record twice en route to victory, Woe Katie would be my favourite for that particular award.

Blasket Music, Cabra Midget and Laughil Lass are the finalists for the Brood Bitch award, Ace Hi Rumble, Kinloch Brae and Westmead Hawk in the Stud Dog category, and Droopys Nidge, Farloe Blitz and Lenson Sanchez hopeful of being named the leading newcomer. The awards will take place at Curraheen Park on May 2.