Friday coming has thrown together one of the best cards we have seen in a while in St. James Park. A sign of things to come no doubt with big races stakes scheduled from now through to September.
The semi-finals of the M&A Coaches A5, will both be keenly contested affairs. The first semi-final looks to be a buckle between Raththorpe Boss in T1 and Millbrook John out in T6. These two met in their novice debuts and that resulted in a dead-heat. Both are housed ideally, but the Hugh Deery trained Millbrook John is fancied to take this one, with Kaysland, a seasoned campaigner the likely challenger to this pair.
The second semi-final will see Kilara Alice go off as favourite, after recording the fastest winning time of the first round, but she will need to break well if she is to get the rail at the opening bend from the early paced Lemon Mel.
We also have two semi-finals of an Open 725 stake, which has attracted some very good stayers. Veteran St. Mullins Pride is on the form of his life and will be fancied to take his semi-final from Kilkenny stalworth Welesbourne Dan, who had a nice pipe-opener over 55o last week. The other semi-final should see Mary Buggys Kilgraney Sport leading them, but he will come under serious pressure from Marie Gilberts charge, Leap of Faith in T1.
But the highlight of the card are the semi-finals of the Broadway Petfoods McCalmont Cup. Mickeys Trickster and Sawdust Terry were the stars of last week’s running, and they have been draw together in the first semi-final. Both hounds have super early pace, and with Terry staying wide they could go around the first bend together, and they we have a buckle the whole way home, and ‘Terry’ would be fancies to outstay Mickeys Trickster to the line. Behind them Droopys Comedian is a dog of huge backstraight pace, and if there is trouble in front he will pounce.
The second semi-final is a wide open affair, and a case could be made for all. However, Priceless Sky is a pup with huge potential, and if he can trap right they will all have to try and catch him.
All in all it is a great nights racing to look forward to.
