MATILDA AND GIZMO CAN SHINE IN THE KINGDOM

Barry Drake

Trained by Pat Buckley for owner Nicholas DeLa Roche, Deerjet Matilda can record back-to-back winning performances in tonight's opening semi-final of the John & Mary Killeacle Dowling Memorial A 1 570.

The July puppy impressed last week when displaying plenty of speed and power to win, in 31.03. Going on that winning effort, the in-form lady is more than capable of following up here. Drawn well, in trap two and with a half decent start, it should take a big performance to turn her over.

In the second semi-final, Zenith Gizmo is the pick for trainer Corona Ryan and owners Birol Nadir and Paddy Kehoe. That was an eye-catching winning performance last week, overcoming trouble in running to land the spoils, in 31.46. The selection has bundles of speed, and if producing one of his better starts, he will be hard to beat. The Jack Kennelly-trained Mr Greedy, a 31.35 winner last week, and Daleroad Best, a 31.31 winner, are others with obvious claims.