LEE STRAND GETS UNDERWAY IN THE KINGDOM TONIGHT

Barry Drake

The €10,000 to the winner Lee Strand 550 gets underway in the Kingdom tonight and it promises to be another wonderful event over the next couple of weeks.

Unanimouspanter, trained by Pat Buckley for Ciaran O'Sullivan, is the one to beat in the second heat. The selection caught the eye last time out and the step up in trip looks certain to suit. With a half-decent start, he should take plenty of beating. 

Buckley is also worth following in the third heat, this time with the Kenny Glen-owned Coolavanny Percy. The August puppy will improve for the step up in trip and he should go very close in this line-up.

John O'Keeffe with Gearoid Linnane, CEO Lee Strand and Leon Blanche, GRI pictured at the launch of this year's Lee Strand 550.

John O'Keeffe with Gearoid Linnane, CEO Lee Strand and Leon Blanche, GRI pictured at the launch of this year's Lee Strand 550.

Heat four can go the way of Ballymac Kinga for Liam Dowling. The October puppy has shown real speed in a couple of outings to date and a big performance looks likely in this.

There are 9 fantastic heats and no doubt there will be plenty to talk about in tomorrow morning's report.