Tough draw for Geldrops
A look at this week's calendar is proof of the fact. The Comerford Cakes National Puppy Stake reaches its second round stage at Shelbourne Park this Saturday, while we are down to the final twelve in the Vodafone Grand Prix at Harolds Cross. Add to these the second round heats of the Express Reprographic 750 at Curraheen Park and it seems more like summer than winter.
Few events capture the imagination like the National Puppy Stake and this year's competition is as strong as ever. There is no doubt that 2004 will be a vintage year on the evidence of the puppies on show. Owen McKenna's Geldrops Touch was the star of the opening round with a sensational 28.66 return on a track that was certainly running a little slow.
The powerful son of Droopys Vieri has been given a tough draw in the second round however and he will certainly need to be on his toes with the likes of First Whip, Side Walk and One Punch Dunne in opposition.
Despite not setting the clock alight in the opening round Puppy Derby winner Droopys Cahill remains the clear favourite for honours with Cashmans, while Paddy Power have Droopys Scholes joint favourite with his litter brother.
Both have been lucky with the second round draw. Cahill wears the blue jacket in Heat Five and he should lead throughout to see of Blonde Rumble and Trajectory Line. Scholes races from trap three in Heat Two and he is chosen to justify his billing as the most exciting youngster in Ireland.
Others to note in the second round are Jack Spark and Pollardstown Rex. Both possess brilliant pace and they are selected to win their respective heats in impressive fashion.
Apart from the National Puppy Stake it will be a big night at Shelbourne due to their wonderful trio promotion. On the night the overall guarantee on the trio pools will be 100,000. There will be one race with a guaranteed pool of 20,000, which will be chosen on the night. Of course punters on all tracks will be able to bet into Shelbourne via the Inter track service.
Paddy Power bet: 4 Droopys Cahill, Droopys Scholes; 9 First Whip; 10 Pollardstown Rex; 12 Fat Budgie, Geldrops Touch, Jack Spark, Side Walk; 14 De Burglar; 16 Premier Fantasy; 20 Blonde Rumble, Nervous Becks; 25 John Joes Dream, One Punch Dunne, Serene Impulse, Velvet Cash; 33 Bar.
Cashmans bet: 9-2 Droopys Cahill; 6 Droopys Scholes; 12 First Whip, Pollardstown Rex; 14 One Punch Dunne, De Burglar, Jack Spark, Geldrops Touch; 16 Fat Budgie; 20 Premier Fantasy, Velvet Cash; 25 Lemon Honcho, John Joes Dream, Side Walk, Blonde Rumble, Serene Impulse; 33 bar.
Curraheen Park is facing a few busy weeks ahead. This Saturday is certain to magical night where the final of the Diarmuid Coffey Open 550 is backed up by the semi finals of the Express Reprographics Munster Marathon and the Bookmakers Getting Out Stakes.
Chestnut Jet is favourite to win the Diarmuid Coffey Open 550 and from a favourable draw he is sure to take plenty of beating in the 5,000 competition. A word of warning however there is plenty of confidence behind Johnny Jump Up, who is owned by a number of Paddy Power employees, and if he makes a good start he could take some catching.
It was quite a week for the Smooth Rumble/Kincraig Minnie litter. Apart from Kincraig Brindle winning the valuable North West Oaks at Lifford, her litter sister Kilquane Lass set new national figures for 750yds in the opening round of the Express Reprographics Munster Marathon.
Following that record breaking performance, Kilquane Lass is certain to start a red-hot favourite in the opening semi final. Her main rival is Mustang Claw, but the Liam Marks owned favourite can prove too sharp for her strapping rival.
The second semi final is a far more open affair. Taming The Tiger and Air Force Honcho both impressed in the opening round, while Cloneys Rocket and Booming Along are also certain of plenty of support. A tentative vote goes the way of Taming The Tiger, but it could be a hell of a contest.
Apart from the big competitions there are also a number of smaller stakes coming up at Curraheen Park. Entries close next week for the 800 St Lukes Boy 29.50 Stakes, the 800 Westpark Prince 29.30 Stakes, the 700 Key Entertainment 18.00 Sprint, the 1,500 96 & 103fm 29.00 Stakes and the 1,000 O'Mahony Packaging 29.70 Stakes. Next week's Getting Out Stakes is a 28.80 race over 525yds.
The draw for the Express Reprographics Munster Marathon is:
Heat 1: 1 Statute Barred; 2 Kilquane Lass; 3 Mustang Claw; 4 Back To Daisy; 5 Group Venture; 6 Hellroad Prince
Heat 2: 1 Silver What; 2 Airforce Honcho; 3 Cloneys Rocket; 4 Taming The Tiger; 5 Learner Driver; 6 Booming Along (w)
Youghal features a top class programme this Friday. The final of the James Fenton Memorial tops the bill though there is also sure to be plenty of interest in the opening round heats of the Little & Large Pet Care Centre Farewell Stakes.
In the coming weeks Youghal will be restricted to on night a week to allow Curraheen Park to open on Friday. Any Youghal owners wishing to run their dogs at Curraheen Park can contact Noel Holland in the Curraheen Park racing office and he is happy to accommodate.
The winter racing dates for Youghal are as follows: Sunday, November 7th; Sunday November 14th; Sunday November 21st; Friday November 26th. Each of the Sunday meetings begin at 7.30, while the Friday meeting will start as normal at 7.50. Dates for December to follow.
The richest competition under way at the moment is the Vodafone Grand Prix and the semi finals of the 35,000 stake will dominate the action at Harolds Cross tomorrow night. In a short number of years the Vodafone Grand Prix has been established as one of the best competitions on the calendar and who could forget Serene Rumbles record breaking performance in last year's final.
Unlike 2002 this year's competition hasn't been dominated by one dog. With twelve remaining, the outcome is still wide open, though many will accept that World Class is still the one to beat.
Despite not quite firing on all cylinders, the Champion Stakes and Waterford Masters winner remains at the head of the betting and his superior early pace can see him safely through the opening semi final into next week's decider. Drawn in trap four, he can make every yard.
Valentia Citrate, When You Like and Connors Return clash in the second semi final and it is difficult to guess what will even start favourite. Valentia Citrate has been one of the most consistent dogs in training this year and from an ideal draw in the stripes, the powerful son of Larkhill Jo can gain victory.
Whatever happens, next week's decider promise to be a real thriller.
