Elect gets vote – despite the tea leaves

READING the tea leaves could be a novel solution to finding the winner of the Barrys Tea 750 at Curraheen Park tonight. It may be safer to rely on the form guide, but that brings its own pitfalls as a case could be made for most of the finalists.

However, the inside line is worth a couple of lengths and that should boil it down to a battle between Jordans Elect (trap 1) and Miss Dynamite (trap 2) - both unbeaten in the stake. Jordans Elect is definitely the paciest in the field - a 28.51 run in the Guinness trophy testifying to that - and has a dream draw.

The explosive Miss Dynamite is the only bitch in the field and trainer Andrea Kemp will also be happy with the draw. The Tipperary-owned bitch is as courageous as they come and given any reasonable run will be hard to shake off. Only a 56 pounder, she can go shoulder to shoulder with the big boys as she proved last week when outbattling Air Force Honcho. However, I don’t think she will get close enough to engage Jordans Elect in battle and I expect Brian McCann’s runner to dampen her powder and land the €6,5000 prize for his Scottish owner.

If anyone can pull a rabbit out of the hat, it’s Denis Duggan and he will be a magician if Autumn Realm (fastest sectional last week) can clear the field from a very unfavourable outside draw. It would be a nostalgic night if the Farmers Cross trainer could pull it off as he has just renewed his public licence after a long spell in the background.

By the way, my mother-in-law claims she can read the cups and swears she spotted a pilot amongst the tea leaves. Could that have been Air Force Honcho?

Paul Hennessy’s ‘Wanderly Wagon’ rolls into town again and, whatever the fate of his runners in the Barry’s Tea, is almost sure to come up with winners in a supporting card laced with quality.

The leading trainer’s Fat Budgie is that main drawing card in one of the best ever the Macroom Motor Service Stakes and the National track record holder should get off on a winning note despite an unfavourable draw.

Others that stand out are Edwin Iddon’s II Capitano, a 29.04 Youghal sweepstake winner, Hennessy’s Barefoot Maestro and Honchos Ransom and my nap of the night, John Kiely’s ideally drawn and super fast Chipp Lad.

The two semi-finals of the English Derby will be shown live during racing.

Selections:

1st race: Thiery (Laxton Superb)

2nd race: Vieri Choice (Oakfront Othello)

3rd race: Sleek Bill (Mikes Prediction)

4th race: Il Capitano (De Burglar)

5th race: Fat Budgie (Ballymac Bullet)

6th race: Barefoot Maestro (Rock Hill)

7th race: Jordans Elect (Miss Dynamite)

8th race: Honchos Ransom (Historic Moment)

9th race: Chipp Lad (Farran Lady)

10th race:Drive On Boss) (Jeffs Liberty)

11th race: Granard Goose (Bankrupt)