BIG CROWD EXPECTED FOR McCALMONT CUP FINAL

Ian Fortune

A bumper crowd is set to descend on Kilkenny this evening for the final of the Deadly Kennels McCalmont Cup.

Aside from the feature, the finals of the Tom Browne Memorial and the Friends of Kilkenny Track A2 525 should also provide some quality action, while the card will also function as a fundraiser in aid of Threecastles GAA Club.

BARRY ON FIRE

The bare form over the past weeks suggest the final of the McCalmont Cup is quite open but such is the improvement shown by Sober Barry through the previous rounds that he is entitled to start a warm favourite.

He has won each of his last four starts, three of which came in the early rounds of this competition and has certainly stepped forward with every outing. His trainer Karol Ramsbottom has certainly got the son of Skywalker Barry singing a sweet tune at present and he is the one to beat.

He flew into the turn last week after a moderate start to emerge a facile winner and many will feel he can repeat that effort tonight.

WHIT A WORTHY ADVERSARY

Nothing will come easy, however.

Carrigeen Whit is also progressive with the Thomas Buggy trained bitch actually setting the standard in the semi-finals to add to her opening round victory.

She has a bit more age than Sober Barry but is really hitting top form.

A good starter, the fact that she is drawn on the inside of Sober Barry could be a big factor. Certainly, if containing Sober Barry into the bend and getting first run, she would be hard to pass but that is a big ‘if’.

COMRADES ON SHOW

Denise Ryan and the Organised Chaos Syndicate are double handed with litter comrades Oriental Prince and his sister Oriental Diamond.

Both have plenty of ability but recent evidence would suggest Oriental Prince is their best hope.

He ran a fine race behind Carrigeen Whit last week and, given his limited experience, is still open to improvement. Oriental Diamond has also been running well but will need everything to go right.

STORM WITH AN IDEAL DRAW

Trainer Shaun Conway is bidding to follow last year’s success with Lotto Other News.

He sends out Jacktavern Storm. The son of Dorotas Wildcat was behind Sober Barry in both the quarters and semifinals but boasts plenty of fine form and has the draw in his favour. In the red of one, if he were to produce one of his better starts, any traffic on his outside would aid his cause.

CASH HAS THE STRENGTH

Paulstown Cash completes a competitive line-up.

Trained locally by Michael Donnelly, he too has plenty of pace, albeit from the second turn. Not the fastest to the bend, he will move with purpose from halfway and may need the gaps to arrive at the right time. If doing so, it’s not inconceivable that he could have a say in the outcome.

A PLACE IN HISTORY ON THE LINE

It certainly is a fascinating contest with a place on an historic role of honour at stake.

The McCalmont Cup goes back to 1947 and has been won by some true superstars in that time, including two-time winner Spanish Battleship.

While it is run as an A1 competition these times, it continues to be one of the flagship events at Kilkenny. Tonight, Karol Ramsbottom and Sean Malone can taste glory with Sober Barry. The rapidly improving son of Skywalker Barry has done everything right in recent weeks and he is again chosen to emerge on top at the expense of Carrigeen Whit and Oriental Prince.