Exempted runners add to appeal of Red Mills Masters
The introduction of the three exempted runners will add considerably to the appeal and it presents us with a potentially thrilling clash between Derby runner-up Dream Walker and brilliant Puppy Derby winner Sparta Maestro.
Laurels winner Razldazl Rioga will be a strong favourite for the opening heat and will take some beating, though I suspect that Piercestown Sand and Varra Captain could give him plenty to do.
The Waterford card on Masters final night (12th) will include Open 525, Open Bitch 525, A1 (Bg) 575 and A1 (Bg) 525.
The Tyrur Kennels Open 575 dominates the Curraheen scene this week with two very interesting semi-finals lined up for Saturday. One had to be very impressed by both Broadstrand Lad and Knockane Rebel last week and they will take all the beating for the €4,500 prize.
Coming up in the next few weeks at Curraheen will be the 48 dog €3,000 Beamish Stout A2 (Bg) 525 which starts on Saturday 19th and two nights earlier the 24 dog €1,300 Richard Neenan Memorial A3 (No Bg) 525 will commence. The latter stake is for dogs that have raced at least three times at Cork or Youghal.
There will be plenty of excitement at Tralee this weekend where Kerry Respite will have a benefit tomorrow and then Crumlin Children’s’ Hospital on Saturday. There will be a pup auctioned each night, donated by the O’Connor family from Tarbert. On Friday it will be a 13 month old dog sapling by Gold Slipalong ex Saleen Lady and then on Saturday a four months old pup by Christmas Box ex Lystoll Silver.
The second round heats of the Kerry Group County Championship will be run tomorrow and in this competition it is very difficult to look beyond Pa Fitzgerald’s Melodys Royal. He is a really high class tracker and was a runaway winner last week in 29.86. The 48 dog €10,000 Gain / Greyhound & Petworld Kingdom Derby Open 525 will commence on November 25th.
The Con Kirby Memorial 550 has attracted a top class entry and guarantees a smashing card at Limerick on Saturday. My idea of the banker best would be Ollie Bray’s Royal Patrol in Heat 2 while it would also be difficult to oppose Larry Dunne’s Slippery Bob in Heat 3.
Saturday’s card is a fundraiser for Ahane GAA and the card will include the semi-finals of the Shane O’Brien/ Barbara Reeves Memorial and the Christy Daly Memorial.
There will be an extra meeting next Thursday and the card will include the semi-finals of a number of GOBA Stakes, the finals of which will be run on the big Limerick & Clare GOBA Night of finals on Saturday, November 19th.
David Morgan and Peter Franklin are very happy with the way Newbridge Track is going following their takeover of the track. It is nearly two months back in action and there should be a very good turnout for the semi-finals of the Michael Fitzpatrick Oaks tomorrow.
Former All-Ireland Hurler Shanks Whelan is a long time involved in greyhounds and he is enjoying his best year with his Piercestown prefix. Another nice trophy can come his way this evening when Piercestown West contests the final of the Red Mills 525 at Enniscorthy. A strong stayer, Piercestown West easily won her heat in 28.80 and can prove too strong for Chas Blue Bard and Honey Rise in the final. Also on the card is the final of the John Doyle Novice and here Sean Dunphy’s Droopys Puzzle can make it three from three.
The weekend will be rounded off by the final of the Supporters’ Club Munster Puppy Cup at Clonmel on Sunday and the inside draw could swing this one for Denis Fitzgerald trained Soho Storm.
Rockchase Bullet, favourite for the Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby final, is going to have a spell at stud.
The son of Westmead Hawk and Droopys Bubble went off favourite for the Derby final and looked set for victory when a marginal leader into the bend where he was badly baulked. He will be standing for a limited period with his trainer Ronny Wuyts prior to going back into training early next year.
