MUSIC EXPECTED TO BE IN THE AIR IN THE KINGDOM FOR A NIGHT OF TOP CLASS RACING
Barry Drake
A big crowd is expected at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium as the final of the €10,000 to the winner A3 Lee Strand 550 takes place.
Also on the brilliant card is the opening round of the €15,000 to the winner Callaway Pro Am @ Stud Race Of Champions.
Music Inthe Air, trained by Pat Guilfoyle for owners the Pension Plan Syndicate, is selected to record four straight wins in the Lee Strand Final. A winner of five of his second career outings, the selection has really impressed in this event over the last couple of weeks, clocking times of 29.46, 29.23, and 29.33.
A greyhound with a big future, he has enough early pace to turn on terms and the strong running tracker can kick for home on the back straight. It all points towards another winning run for the super-talented and very exciting Music Inthe Air.
Liam Dowling's Ballymac Charpel is next best. The August puppy is another with a huge future ahead, and he returned to winning ways last week, clocking 29.46. He can be hit or miss at the traps, and he will need his quickest start to land the spoils; however, he is capable. With only five career starts, the best is yet to come, and he's expected to deliver another big performance.
Of the others in the line-up, Happy Me, for Shane and Sophie Murphy, could well set the early fractions from the inside of the track, and he can run well once more. Liam Dowling's Ballymac Sheff has a massive engine, but he needs to improve in the trapping department if he's to land the spoils.
THE CALLAWAY PRO AM @ STUD RACE OF CHAMPIONS has attracted a top-class line-up, with three outstanding semi-final heats down for decision.
Solo And Go, trained by Liam Dowling for owners the Kingdoms Palace Syndicate, gets a narrow vote in the opening heat. Second in the final of the Laurels at the back end of last year, he went on to win the Kingdom Derby around course and distance, and he’s fancied to win the all-important early lead, which will be key in this race.
He clocked a sensational 17.01 around the 325-yard trip recently, and he can make all the running from trap three.
Recent Kirby winner Bouncing Monarch is another leading fancy; however, he has a tricky-looking draw in trap four. Trained by Michael O’Donovan for David Fradgley, he lowered the track record in Limerick, clocking an incredible 27.77. A recent 27.71 spin around the Kingdom tells us he’s in full working order, but he will need one of his very quickest starts to score.
Of the others, Ballycowen Frank, trained by O’Donovan for Debbie Doyle and Dean Harpur, is another with claims. A winner in 27.60 last week, that’s the quickest run ever around the Kingdom venue, but it didn’t go into the record books because of the three-dog race. He dead-heated for second in the Kirby final, and he’s not without a chance from the blue jacket of trap two.
Swords Style, trained by Graham Holland for Barbara Lowndes, has a few big recent runs around Towcester, and the fast-starting selection can bounce out in front and make all the running from trap three in the second heat. Such a consistent fast trapper, he brings strong form to the race, and a bold bid from the front is very likely.
The sole seeded runner in six is Glengar Silent, and he should enjoy plenty of racing room for trainer Pat Buckley and owner Tom Nolan. Hit or miss at the traps, if producing one of his better starts, he will be a danger to all.
Magical Mag, for Patrick Guilfoyle, was out of luck in the Oaks last Saturday night, and she’s capable of going well, despite a tough draw, outside the selection. The Derby finalist and Lifford Oaks champion will need to be foot-perfect.
In the closing heat, sponsor Denis Murphy has a leading player in the shape of the Owen McKenna-trained Callaway Five. No stranger to big runs around Shelbourne Park, he clocked 28.15 around here last week, and he has enough early speed to make all the running from trap five.
Low Profile, trained by Graham Holland for the R-T-And-C-Syndicate, is another one to watch out for. The pacey tracker has bundles of speed; however, he doesn’t get it right at traps all the time. Trap four is another concern, but he can’t be ruled out in this open-looking contest.
Two from each heat will progress into next weekend’s big final.