Serene Rumble ready to resume career in Vodafone Grand Prix
The dog has been out of action since he was withdrawn injured from the quarter finals of the Paddy Power Irish Derby, but owner Eddie Ryan yesterday confirmed that the dog is ready to resume.
“Michael (O'Donovan) has been galloping him and he will probably be given a trial over 550 yards around Harold's Cross on Friday night.”
It will be remembered that Serene Rumble won the Vodafone last year and set a national 575 record in the process.
He has had his interruptions this year and was clearly running under a cloud during the Derby, yet he still managed to win his first three rounds. He will be a hot favourite to win the Vodafone Grand Prix for a second time when the entries close on Tuesday next.
On the subject of Harold's Cross the track will host the final of the Tote Gold Collar tomorrow night and Reggie Roberts must be entertaining hopes of being on the rostrum. He has Awesome Impact and First Charter running from traps one and two while he bred Fairy Gate, a litter sister to First Charter, who runs from four for Mattie Lenane.
First Charter was marginally fastest in the semis and looks the one to beat. Valentia Citrate and Awesome Impact will be powering home but First Charter gets the vote.
Saturday's card at Curraheen Park is a really good one with the semi-finals of the Beamish Stout 575 and the first round heats of the Burger King 525, as well as the Bookmakers Getting Out Stake.
The first round of the Beamish threw up some fine performances and the semi-finals look mighty competitive. Share A Lady and Flashing Away are two heat winners in the opening semi but they'll need to turn it on to hold the flying late run of Taming The Tiger. When You Like was most impressive last week and is the one to beat in the second heat while Deerfield Gold has the draw to beat Phoenix Ice in the third eliminator.
The Sundays Well Rugby Club has a benefit meeting at Curraheen Park next Wednesday and the top race is a 1,200 Open 525. Entries close on Saturday for all races: 525y (29.40, 29.60, 29.80, 30.00); 550y (29.20) and 575y (29.00). The next major at the track is the Express Reprographics Munster Marathon over 750 yards with a winner's prize of E 15,000. This 36 dog event closes on Tuesday with the first round on Saturday week.
Tomorrow's Youghal meeting is a benefit for Ring GAA Club and it features the semi-finals of the Kasco Stake as well as first round heats of the Trigger Deen Novice 700. Then on Tuesday the Tri-Distance gets under way as well as the weekly Track Supporters Stake final. A number of sweepstakes including the James Fenton Memorial (30.20) and a 29.40 Stake are coming up in the coming weeks.
There will be massive interest in Sunday's Munster Puppy Cup semi-finals at Clonmel (7.30 start) where Droopys Carling will be bidding to extend his unbeaten record in the event. He was again fastest in the second round but faces a real battle against John Joes Dream this time. The second heat has Petes Noble perfectly housed in trap one but Lemon Honcho will be motoring at the business end.
Clonmel have a mighty card tonight with the semi-finals of four stakes down for decision, including the Ballyduff Upper Unraced Stake.
The big race at Tralee this weekend is the final of the Autumn 525 on Saturday but there is news of a number of valuable competitions in the coming weeks. There is a winner's prize of 10,000 for the Denis Browne Victory Dog Food Kingdom Derby that gets under way tomorrow week. There will be a 6,500 prize for the Mid Western Lifts (29.40) 570 that gets under way on November 22nd. Commencing in early December are two 30.30 and 29.90 stakes sponsored by James Vaughan Furniture and carrying winners prizes of 2,500.
The Newbridge Oaks couldn't have got off to a better start last weekend, with Spell Bound setting a new track record time of 28.42. Ollie Bray's bitch goes from trap six in tomorrow's first semi where The Other Domino and Davran Chief look the dangers. The second heat can be safely left to Legal Moment with Kestrel Lass and Lughill Angel the main threats.
The Egan Hospitality 525 moves on to the semi-final stage at Shelbourne on Saturday and the big two, Mobhi Gamble and Smoking Ban, clash in the second heat. You can have 12-1 bar the pair in the betting on this event and the odds just about represent the real situation. Expect Mobhi Gamble to lead home this time while Spinners Choice and Air Force James could fight it out in the opening heat.
There are three finals down for decision at Enniscorthy tonight while Galway's card tomorrow features the Paul Burke Electrical 525 decider. Then on Saturday at Waterford the finals of the Snap Printing 550 and the Bridge Hotel Unraced will be run. At Limerick the same night there will be a couple of finals.
