€4,000 UP FOR GRABS IN JIMMY FLAHERTY MEMORIAL DECIDER

Peter Farrell

There is a fantastic €4,000 on offer to the winner of the Jimmy Flaherty Memorial A2/A3 525 and, while the decider looks wide open on the evidence of the earlier rounds, the vote goes the way of Summerfield Tear, who arrives on the back of a hugely impressive semi-final success.

Kindly sponsored by the Flaherty Family, this year's renewal has proved fiercely competitive throughout and connections of all six finalists will be quietly confident of making a bold bid for the rich first prize. Grangeview Ike set the standard in the opening round with a rapid 28.83 .20s, however, Summerfield Tear produced a runaway semi-final victory that suggests she is the one they all have to beat.

Perfectly housed in trap two, Liam Carr's charge has been the model of consistency on the sectional clock, with her last three outings in this competition yielding nothing slower than a 3.33 split. That could prove decisive in a contest packed with early pace and, from her ideal inside draw, she looks the most likely leader. The daughter of Grangeview Ten clocked 28.97 .20s from the front last time out and, should she dictate around the opening bend once again, it will take a special performance to reel her back in.

Her chief rival may well be Grangeview Ike for Michael Hogan. While his best form has come from the inside, the draw in trap four could actually prove a blessing in disguise after he stepped right at traprise last weekend before edging towards the middle approaching the opening bend. The August whelp possesses a huge engine but will need to reproduce his sub-3.30 sectional if he is to gain the early advantage, something that is certainly within his capabilities from this berth. That said, he did fade somewhat in the closing stages of his semi-final and will need to have matters settled early if he is to make it seven wins from twelve career starts.

Another with solid credentials is the improving Hanover Gorm in trap five. Despite a tricky draw, Leeanne Fleming's runner has the clocks to play a major role and continues to outperform his starting price. A sharp break is essential, but it would be unwise to dismiss a greyhound from a kennel enjoying such excellent form. Of the remainder, Heathlawn Ruby is superbly housed in trap one and has the edge on experience for Rose and Martin Kelly. She has previously dipped under the 29-second barrier and ran with real credit when chasing home Summerfield Tear in the semi-finals. Glengar Sofia, meanwhile, faces a difficult assignment from trap six and will need plenty to fall her way for Gerry Holian and the Two-Pints Syndicate, while Glamorous Rocket will be hoping for traffic up front so he can utilise his strong finishing kick. The latter pair possess contrasting running styles, but both are likely to require a slice of racing luck if they are to upset the market principals. That said, both have the form to stake a major play in the decider and it has all the ingredients of a top-class contest.