FINAL TWENTY-FOUR DO BATTLE IN WILLWEGO.COM IRISH ST. LEGER
Peter Farrell
Swords Rex raised the bar in the 2023 Willwego.com Irish St. Leger at Limerick last weekend as he went just under one length off the track record and he will bid to strengthen his grip on the Classic in tonight’s quarter finals.
With just twenty-four greyhounds remaining, expect the action to ramp up later tonight and it’s fair to say that Graham Holland holds an extremely strong hand. As well as Swords Rex, who is now the clear favourite after his 29.27 display, he is also armed with Clonbrien Treaty, Nomadic Nova, Gaytime Hugo, Romeo Hanzo and Garfiney Blaze. However, Pat Buckley will still fancy his chances of retaining the Classic with Bobsleigh Dream continuing to impress, while Ballinabola Una, Glengar Elvis and Bobsleigh Syd are hardly seen as ‘also-rans’. Throw in the likes of Trinity Junior, Another Holiday, Sober Glory. Mr Chelm and Music Glideaway and this is for sure one of the strongest Leger’s in recent memory.
REX TO ROAR
Indeed, there is only one place to start and that is the second quarter final where Swords Rex will take his place. Barbara Lowndes’ charge was incredible in posting 29.27 last time out as he made some exceptional greyhounds look ordinary in the process. Drawn in trap three later tonight, he will again face some formidable rivals, however, he is impossible to oppose given his form. His 2.82 early sectional is unrivaled and expect another front-running masterclass from the son of Droopys Sydney. Of his rivals, Ballinabola Una gets the nod to give Holland’s charge the most to think about. The Pat Buckley-trained puppy is getting better and better with every outing and it remains to be seen where her ceiling is. Housed in trap one, the daughter of Burgess Bucks is beginning to sharpen up at traps and a decent break can see her nestle into a favourable position to at least qualify. Nomadic Nova is the other likely qualifier in five. A kennel companion of ‘Rex’, Graham Ashe’s tracker had no answer to Mr. Chelm last time out, however, he is still lightly raced and further improvement is inevitable. Drawn in five, he is well boxed to make the frame. The remaining runners of Cloonturk Bruno, Beepers Lariat and Deadly Style are certainly no slouches and will all fancy their chances of picking up a qualifying position. Beepers Lariat, however, perhaps the most likely after an eye-catching performance in defeat to Bobsleigh Dream last weekend.
TREATY CAN TAKE-OFF
Next best in terms of the clock last weekend was the reigning Con & Annie Kirby champ Clonbrien Treaty and he gets the vote to maintain his unbeaten run in the Classic in the last of the quarter-finals.
Jointly owned by Muireann and James Murphy, Clonbrien Treaty once again displayed his fondness of the Limerick circuit as he excelled brilliantly into the opening turn before staying on stoutly to post 29.42. The incredible thing about that display is that the son of Pestana is still not breaking as he can and this suggests he is very capable of matching the likes of Swords Rex off a level start. Housed in six, this is without doubt the lesser of the four quarter-finals on offer and with a number of slow-starters in the field, ‘Treaty’ is banker material as a result. Of his rivals, it is Bobsleigh Syd who is the most likely to cause the jolly problems. The Pat Buckley-trained black is absolutely flying from traps and that alone could prove the fly in the ointment for Clonbrien Treaty. That said, he does struggle to see out the stiff 550-yard trip so he will need to continue to trap in such a manner. The remaining runners will all be doing their best work late but it is Gaytime Hugo who would be class above on top-form. Also trained by Graham Holland, he is likely to gain a clear passage from trap one early on with Bobsleigh Syd on his outer and he is the selection to fill the podium ahead of Garfiney Blaze, Churchtown Syd and Mystical Messi, who will all require a little luck to qualify.
TRINITY TO DOWN DREAM
The third quarter final should prove to be a real spectacle with the reigning Leger champ, Bobsleigh Dream, bidding to maintain her unbeaten record in the 2023 renewal.
Willie Joe Murphy’s phenomenal bitch has once again been one of the standout performers over the last couple of weeks and Bobsleigh Dream is without a doubt a leading player to regain her crown. Her opening round performance was a carbon-copy over her final display last year, while she again timed her finish to perfection when reeling in Beepers Lariat last weekend. Drawn in four this week, this contest has the potential to provide her with her toughest test to date. Her early sectionals suggest she will trail the field into the opening corner and, on this occasion, one suspects she can ill-afford to give the likes of a Trinity Junior a head-start. Peter Cronin’s Champion Stakes winner was back to his best last time out when making-all in 29.55 and it’s fair to say, he didn’t break as he can on that occasion. Drawn in one, he looks a certain leader for Tim Slevin and he will prove mighty tough to reel in if rounding the opening corner in command. As a result, the son of Laughil Blake is the one to beat as he bids to make another Leger final in a fortnight’s time. Of the remainder, Music Glideaway will be fancied to make the frame. Trained by Pat Guilfoyle, the BoyleSports Derby finalist was unlucky last time out when shipping a bump at the opener, however, performed admirably to finish second in behind Glengar Elvis. There were signs on that occasion that the son of Newinn Taylor was beginning to rediscover his trapping boots and he looks like another big player in six. Elsewhere, the likes of Dromana Dano, Sunshine Dream and Romeo Hanzo will all have to be at their best to figure, however, ‘Dano’ was very impressive in holding Sober Glory last time out and Gearoid O’Brien’s charge isn’t without a chance.
HOLIDAY TO SCORE
The opening quarter-final looks the most open on paper with several runners boasting strong claims.
Another Holiday may have tasted defeat behind the exceptional Swords Rex last weekend but he still posted a rapid 29.48 and Michael O’Donovan’s tracker is the likely favourite in this contest. The son of Dorotas Wildcat has come into this competition in tip-top form and he is supremely drawn in trap three later tonight. Given the abundance of early pace in this quarter-final, Jack Roche’s charge will need to remain consistent at trap-rise, however, there is nothing to suggest he won’t do so. Of his main dangers, Mr Chelm fits the bill after a really likeable performance last time out. After notably fading in round one, that outing clearly improved the fitness levels of Peter Cronin’s charge as he flew around in 29.62 and he too is well-housed in trap four. The race to the bend will no doubt prove crucial as a result and it should make for a fascinating contest. Sober Glory will also hope to make the frame. Trained by Karol Ramsbottom, the son of Droopys Sydney hasn’t handled Limerick too well since arriving, however, the fact he remains in the quarter-finals outlines his ability. Drawn in red tonight, he will need to stay out of trouble to book his spot in the semis, however, there is no doubt that with a clear passage he would be hard to beat. Indeed, the same can be said of litter brother, Ryhope Beach, in trap five. A quite frustrating tracker given his clear ability, Michael O’Donovan’s brindle is hit and miss at the traps but if starting on terms would give anything a run for their money. Likely to trail the field early, Ryhope Beach will hope for some traffic up front so he can pick up the pieces in behind. Of the remaining runners, Glengar Elvis was a brilliant winner in 29.56 last week and is another who still has scope to improve given his age, while the outsider of the field will no doubt be Droopys De Luxe, who will need a career best effort to qualify.