STAGE SET FOR A THRILLING FINISH TO CHAMPION UNRACED

Ian Fortune

All roads lead to Kilkenny this evening with a talented crop of youngsters set to battle it out for the €15,000 winner’s purse in the Champion Open Unraced. Each of the six finalists have a bright future but the market will suggest that the likely winner will come from the outside duo of Broadstrand Syd and Moanteen Wildcat.

 

SUPER SYD

Broadstrand Syd will start favourite from trap five and certainly has all the attributes needed to be a superstar in the future. The draw is a slight concern, however. The Johnny Linehan trained son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Alice would certainly prefer a rails pitch and needs to be at his electric best in the early yards.

He does have supreme pace to the third turn, however, and that is what could set him aside from the pack. Should he come away racing, it’s very likely he will go around in front before increasing his advantage to the third turn. The potential for heavy conditions won’t be ideal but Broadstrand Syd is a deserving favourite.

 

MOANTEEN LOOKS TO RUN WILD

Moanteen Wildcat has made a very bright start to his career and certainly has the best of the draw this evening. Wearing the stripes, he could have the room of Kilkenny into the turn with Broadstrand Syd likely to edge inwards from five.    

There is no doubt he has pace to make a bold bid but needs to come away racing. He flew into the turn after a moderate start and managed to force his way to the front despite taking a couple of bumps. That was the only reason he didn’t dip under 29 seconds.

With a slightly better start, he would be prominent on the outside of the track and is without doubt the biggest threat, on paper, to Broadstrand Syd.

 

BALE TO FINISH AT SPEED

Owen McKenna will be hoping he can get Greenmount Bale to the corner a little quicker as he is likely to finish faster than any in the line-up. A powerful son of Magical Bale and Upward Pearl, he is chasing his first success but has caught the eye in each of his three starts, finishing with a wet sail.

There is no doubt the gaps need to appear for Greenmount Bale but his owners, Colin and Curtis Ingram, can look forward to many big nights with their talented charge, while it would be no surprise if he were to finish close this evening.

 

THELAD HAS AN ENGINE

Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Thelad races from four. Apart from needing to avoid Broadstrand Syd in the opening yards, he too needs to negotiate a clear passage into the back straight. He won in fine style on debut but has found traffic in his two subsequent starts.

He may not produce his very best until he gets to Shelbourne Park but he is another with a huge engine and it would be far from surprising to see him hit the frame. 

 

LION AND GEM SEEKING A CAREER BEST EFFORT

The leaves us with the outsiders of the field, Lion Heart and Julies Gem. Lion Heart had no answer to Broadstrand Syd last week but does have a kind draw on the rail. As a son of Droopys Sydney and Susie Sapphire, he was bred to be special and Marie Gilbert will be hoping he can continue to progress.  

He may need luck on bare form, but the draw is a real plus for Peter Comerford’s charge and he is not to be ignored.

Julies Gem also needs a little luck. She received a fair slice of it in the second round when left in front down the back straight in a 29.25 success. She must improve on all known form to threaten but Murt Leahy is sure to have her primed for a big run.

 

A WONDERFUL CONTEST

It’s a wonderful final to what has been a brilliant competition. So many superstars have emerged from the stake in the past and the potential is for more to emerge this year. On recent evidence, it could come down to Broadstrand Syd and Moanteen Wildcat with the nod going to the former but stranger things have happened in the past. Best of luck to all involved.