Cabra Noel set to continue Puppy Stake charge
However, the strength of the racing programme so far has been very impressive and one could even claim the standard of Saturday night racing is actually hitting an all-time high.
Saturday’s card will be another high-class all open programme, featuring the semi-finals of the Comerford Cakes National Puppy Stake and the quarter-finals of the Christmas Oaks.
Since the first round the Comerford Cakes has become a two-dog affair from a betting viewpoint and it remains so in advance of the penultimate stage. Cabra Noel is a best priced 7-4 while Razldazl Will is 5-2 and you can then bet double figures the rest.
The Graham Holland trained Cabra Noel will contest the second semi-final and must be strongly fancied to win again. He has been hugely impressive in the competition and has been flying from traps as his sub 2.00sec splits show. If he can repeat this starting here he is likely to be a short priced favourite for the final.
But this is a hot semi, with the likes of Ruthless Man, Fridays Carroll, Highview Beauty and Hanover Laddie in opposition. Nothing but a foot-perfect performance will suffice from Cabra but he does appear to be eminently consistent.
Razldazl Will has managed to pull victory out of the jaws of defeat in his last few outings and he is surely overdue a better start in the first semi. He will need it as he could find himself too far adrift of the pace with Swift Marathon, Paradise Martini, Highview Dusty, Eabhas Fantasy and Fridays Scolari all capable of being in front of him.
High St Miley will be an absentee from the second heat in the second round of the Oaks and Christys Bell is on standby to occupy the four box.
One of last Saturday’s impressive winners won’t be gracing the Shelbourne stage again. Tyrur Big Mike, following his hugely impressive win in 28.38, has been retired to stud and he is now standing with Michael Dunne in Portlaoise.
There is a top-class programme on offer at Harolds Cross tomorrow with the semi-finals of the Tote Gold Collar and the six first round heats of the Ted Hegarty Marathon.
The main final of the week is the Bookmakers Champion Bitch Stake at Thurles on Saturday where the Davy Reynolds trained Montblanc can maintain her high level of form, but she will need to get away smartly.
The semi-finals of the Greyhound & Petworld/Gain Kingdom Derby will be run at Tralee tomorrow with the first heat featuring a rematch between Neilus O’Connell’s Croom Star and John Cusack’s Newlawn Tock, with Movealong Dash and Captain Scolari thrown in for good measure.
The one to beat, though, is surely Graham Holland’s near veteran Leeview Jet. He has been most impressive in his runs to date and should have too much early for the likes of Pablo Supreme, Boxer Princess and Shelbourne Geoff.
This time last year the Rising Kennels Open Unraced at Youghal produced a sensational winner in the dog later to be known as Taylors Sky. This year’s final will be run tomorrow and it doesn’t look as though there is another English Derby winner in the line-up.
The semi winners last week were Michael Moloney’s Heres The Bird in 29.81 and Julie O’Sullivan and Tom Moloney’s Vedfield Solid in 29.69. One wonders if Johnny O’Sullivan’s Lann Tom or Alan Murray’s Murralli Junior step up a little on semi running.
Saturday’s card at Waterford will include the final of the Richie Walsh A1 525 where Assasin Blue looks the likely winner.
Meanwhile, the 12 dog €1,700 Richie Walsh & WTSC A2 550 (Bg) will kick off on Saturday, as will the 18 dog €1,600 A4 (Bg) 525.
Good news for Waterford followers is that the Duggan family from Portlaw will sponsor a Winter Festival of racing at Kilcohan during January. This will be in conjunction with the launch of a new website on their rearing/training kennels in January.
Finally, notice of the commencement of Racing Post Greyhound TV tomorrow night on Sky Digital 231. This programme will run each Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 7.15 and 10.45pm. It will cover live racing from Hove and Monmore on Thursdays, Romford and Sunderland on Fridays and Crayford and Newcastle each Saturday.
