TEAM BALLYMAC WORTH FOLLOWING AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake

The semi finals of the €5,000 to the winner Elite Contracting Design Open 575 are the feature races at Curraheen Park on Saturday. It’s another fantastic event this year and it will take plenty of winning over the next two weeks.

In the opening heat, Ballymac Altobel impressed when winning in 31.35 last week and she has strong claims of recording back-to-back wins. The classy performer has plenty of big runs in the book and with another decent start out wide, she is the one to beat.

Da Tapper Flynn, trained by Pat Kiely for the Golden Spoon Syndicate, is next best. He caught the eye in defeat last week and the strong running tracker will be finishing with a flourish. If he can turn in a handy position along the inside of the track, he would then be a real danger to all in the second half of the race.

Of the others, Yorkie Ollie did show a return to form last week and he’s not without a chance from the rails pitch for trainer Graham Holland.

It could be a good night for the Liam Dowling kennels as Ballymac Chantry lands a narrow vote. The selection displayed plenty of pace and power when behind Bartlemy Mainoo last week, however, the Ballymac runner should improve for that run and with a slightly quicker start in this, the May puppy should prove tough to beat. Bartlemy Mainoo, trained by Graham Holland and Sheila Mannix. In fine form in recent weeks, she’s chasing a hat trick of straight successes. A 31.13 winner last week, she’s a huge player on that running.

In the third race,JJU, trained by Denis Fitzgerald for owner Andrew O’Sullivan can make a winning sprinting debut. A bright prospect, the selection has run well in two previous outings and he looks very to strike in this. With a decent start, he should take all the beating.