Friday night will see over €12,000 in prize money handed out in Kilkenny, on that is traditionally one of the best nights racing of the year in the Kilkenny track.
The showpiece event is the Langton Derby, which despite not attracting a massive entry this year it has attracted a lot of serious quality. Last year’s stake gave one the fastest ever winner of the stake in Moral Duty, whose 28.78 is the fastest spin around James’ Park since the track redevelopment.
The second
semi-final saw Jim Morrissey’s Jack De Man go off the 6/4 jolly after this super, 2905 in the quarter final, and conventional wisdom suggested that Ballygur Ted was out too far in box 5. Murty Leahy has two in Princess Gael and Sawdust Terry, and it was Terry the only wide runner in the race, who was fancied by many at 2/1. As the lids went up all eyes were on the the red jacket, but it Jack De Man trapped poorly and missed the kick, and it was Stephen Townsley’s Cool Disguised (8/1) that led them all to the bend in a super 4.45 split, followed 3 parts of a length back by Murty Leahy’s second runner Princess Gael(4/1). Behind this Pair Sawdust Terry and Ballygur Ted came together with ‘Ted’ coming off worst, and this in turn hampered the progress of Jack De man and Cool Rocket. So it was the Belfast dog, Cool Disguised that took it up down the back, chased hard by Princess Gael and Sawdust Terry. The leader failed to see out this stiff 525 trip and Princes Gael collared the blue dog by a neck to take the victory in 2938, with Sawdust Terry putting in a hell of a run around the final two bends to be third, and also in to final.
The final is now wide open, and the nod for me will go to Kilcloney Queen, who is housed to perfection and if she traps like she can will lead, and it will take a hell of a run to catch his bitch that has produced 4.43 à28.91 wearing the white jacket in the past. However, if she is not foot perfect all the way, Sawdust Terry will be finishing fastest of all, and being the sole wide runner he also has his preferred box.
We also have the final of the €1200 A3 novice 725 final. An interesting affair and the dog they all have to beat is Tom Dwyer’s Killough Harry (, who in landing a nice gamble last Friday night (5/2 à 5/4) romped home by 8L in a very impressive 40.95. This dog who can certainly find more over the early parts of the distance, should go onto be a top dog over the 6 bend trip, and with natural improvement in his 6 bend running, he will be a player in all the big 6 bend competitions from now on in.
However, saying that, it will not be plain sailing this final, as he has drawn the stripes, and after leading all the way last week, he will most likely have to come from behind Hay Happy Hannah and Barnacrow Top if he is to take the prize this week.
There is also the matter of the Aries Son @ Stud A4 final. This has been a very competitive stake, kindly sponsored by Larry and Mary Buggy, who stand their superb early paced dog Aries Son.
From the first round heats it emerged that At The Limit (formerly Burn and Turn) and Lemon Lola were the ones they all has to match, however last Friday’s semi-final saw the Mickey Doran trained Emma’s Assurance turn in a superb 2944 run. This daughter of Barefoot Bolt and Tyrur Fifi, has overcome the handicap of box 6 in the two rounds so far and now housed the very favourable 3 box, she has a great chance. At The Limit has not trapped from 1 in his previous two efforts from there, and is also likely to come out towards the hare slightly, which would hamper Lemon Lola’s bid. If ‘Lola’ can get her head in front then it will make for a great seven days for that litter as her sister Lemon Belle took the 3500 first prize in an A1 600 yrd stake in limerick last Friday night. While the others are by no means out of it, it is the inside 3 that will take all the beating here.
This week will also see the start of the €6000 Sean Flynn Memorial A3/4 stake, and Friday’s card will also be complemented with Open class action over the 300 and 525 trips. As always, things are bright for the greyhound game in Kilkenny Track.
This year we have not seen a clock like that yet, but none the less we have 6 very good finalists, going to traps on Friday night. The semi-finals on Friday night, threw up some shocks, and the first one went to Cork raider, Burgess Star (4/1), whose 4.52 split was enough to lead at the first bend, and then all the way to the line in a smart 29.29, from the fast finishing Burnt Oak Bobby. Crowding at the first and 3rd bends behind hampered Mt Leinster Hill, Olympic Rockstar and Kilcloney Queen, but it was Danny O’Connell’s ‘Queen’ who emerged from that pack strongest and took the final spot by a short head, a neck and neck from the rest.
