HUGELY COMPETITIVE ANN CHEEVERS DECIDER ON OFFER AT GALWAY

HUGELY COMPETITIVE ANN CHEEVERS DECIDER ON OFFER AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

There’s a healthy carrot worth chasing at Galway Greyhound Stadium later tonight as the final of the €1,800 to the winner Ann Cheevers Memorial A4/A5 525 goes down for decision.

Kindly sponsored by Paul Cheevers, this competition has proved an extremely competitive one and although Fortune Sydney heads into the decider as the only A1 greyhound in the line-up, a very unfavourable draw has blown the decider wide-open.

A 28.90 .10s winner of his opening round assignment, the son of Droopys Sydney and Fortune Himary has failed to reproduce those figures in the past couple of rounds and a poor draw in six will require his very best effort to land the prize. In contrast, Fast Fit Pennie may not be close in terms of the clock, however, John Quinn’s bitch is currently in a rich vein of form and is arguably the one to beat.

Well-drawn in three, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat has won each round to date and is currently on the brink of a four-timer. Always advisable to follow a bitch in form, she will be flying from the halfway mark, however, it wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility should she pop out in dictate. Lissatouk Peggy may have a say on that particular aspect.

James McMahon’s brindle is normally red-hot at traprise and she should have too much early on for the likes of Crokers Captain on her inside. It is crucial to the chances of ‘Peggy’ that she pings out, however, she has the make-up to do so from trap two and it will be a case of catch-me-if-you-can thereafter. The aforementioned Crokers Captain made every inch in the semis and John Croker will hope for something of the same this time around.

That said, the son of Burgess Bucks is a little inconsistent at traprise and will need to bring his A-game to the table in order to land the spoils. Another live contender is Blacklabel Rose for joint owners, Niall Gavin and James Egan. The most in-experienced in the line-up with just the five starts under her belt, the August 22’ whelp is the one that is open to most improvement and in truth, she doesn’t need to find too much to take home gold.

The daughter of Droopys Sydney is regularly knocking on the door of 29-seconds and she is certainly in with a huge chance tonight. ‘Rose’ will stay on strongly and don’t be surprised if she adds to her sole maiden victory later tonight. The remaining finalist is Moneygall Aaron in trap five. Trained by Margaret Bolton, this experienced black doesn’t get his head in front too often and will require plenty of luck on this occasion if he is to add to his three wins from thirty-four starts. Overall, the slight nod goes to the in-form Fast Fit Pennie, however, Blacklabel Rose looks a fine prospect and she shouldn’t be too far away come the business end of proceedings.

STRONG SUPPORT CARD

Elsewhere on the card, it is refreshing to see a Novice 810 on offer and at first glance it is Cloonturk Bruno who is the standout tracker.

A quarter finalist in last year's Irish St. Leger at Limerick, Cloonturk Bruno is the class animal in the field having mixed it with some of the best in training over the course of his 30+ starts. Owned by the Tigue-Family-Syndicate, the son of Belles Direction hasn’t tasted victory since October of last year however, hence the drop to A2 class over the standard trip.

A stout stayer, the jury is out on whether he will stay this extreme trip but this can be said of all five rivals and he certainly looks the one to beat if anything close to his best. Of his rivals, Bumblebee Granny looks a prospect for the Burke brothers and she is fresh off a career-best performance over the standard trip last time out. Just a July puppy, the daughter of Gaytime Hawk could be something special over the marathon trip and she is sure to attract plenty of interest from a perfect draw in six.

RETURN OF OPEN RACING

Race seven is an AO/A1 525 contest and this will see the impressive Hanover Storm bid to get back to winning ways.

Owned by Leeanne Fleming, Hanover Storm won his first start in a terrific 28.90 around Galway and the son of Slippery Robert is consistently dipping under 29-seconds despite having just seven starts under his belt. Indeed, he was narrowly outed by Grangeview Lolo last time out and that form alone should be enough to see him through tonight. Of his rivals, however, is the very fast Drombeg Apollo in five. Evan McAuliffe’s runner was unlucky in running last time out in a race won by Hanover Phantom and he won’t be far away if trapping on terms.