NOON BALLAD CAN SEND CORK PUNTERS HOME HAPPY
Barry Drake
Noon Ballad, trained by Kieran Lynch for owners Eoin Ivers and Fintan Lawlor, is the one to be on in the closing race at Curraheen Park tonight.
The July ‘24 whelp is a five-time winner, and this represents an ease in class for the talented tracker. She’s a previous 28.39 winner, and she has caught the eye in a couple of recent performances.
On her most recent outing, she ran a cracker to finish second to Highbury Days. That’s a very strong line of form, and the selection has plenty of all-round speed. If turning handy, which looks very likely, then she should take serious stopping.
Clonavanny Blue, trained by Tony Winters for Simon Buckley, has some decent form in the book and if putting his best foot forward, he’s not without a chance.
Of the others, Unanimous Ayla is of interest for the John Naughton kennel. That was a fine winning performance last time out. She has much more on her plate in this, and she will need to improve; however, the quick-starting lady should run well.
In the previous race, Galloping Jack stands out for trainer Pat Kiely and owners Pat Creed and James Moore. That was a decent run in defeat last time out, and the strong running tracker gets the nod in this. He will need to produce one of his better starts; he should go very close. He has a recent 17:36 trial in the book; that’s top class, and if showing that early zip, he should return to winning ways.
Danzig Rebel, trained by James Kelleher for owners the Castlegrounds Syndicate, is the obvious danger. He is no stranger to big performances around here and he was unlucky in running on his most recent start. With a clear run round, it will take a big performance to turn him over.
Paul Hennessy has a couple of runners on the card, and there’s no doubt he will be targeting the upcoming Irish Greyhound Laurels.
In race number seven, Jaykay Fly, trained by Hennessy for Carol O’Riordan, is the pick. He has shown up well in a couple of big competitions, and this looks a good opportunity to make a Curraheen Park winning debut run. He’s capable of bouncing out in front and making all the running.
Hennessy is the man to follow in the fourth as well, this time with John Naughton’s Hillcrest Lola. The selection is a really exciting prospect, and she caught the eye in a recent Unraced Stake around Waterford.
Drawn badly in the feature final, she showed all sorts of speed after a missed start from the wide outside.
Drawn better this time around, in trap four, we can expect a fine front-running winning performance.
In the opener, the Kieran Lynch-trained Mirandas Best should make a bold bid from the front. The February puppy ran well on debut and despite running below that form since, the selection looks capable of making every hard of the running.
Aghaburren Jean, for Mossy O’Leary, is next best. She was no match for a couple of smart sorts on debut and a better run is expected in this.
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