TWO WHEEL TRAINING OPEN 750 GETS UNDERWAY AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake

The opening round heats of the €5,000 to the winner Two Wheel Training Open 750 are the feature races at Curraheen Park tonight.

A recent winner of the Shelbourne 600, Mydras Opinion is a really interesting runner in the third heat. Trained by Owen McKenna for owner Moira Cositgan, the powerful running tracker is worth a go at this trip, and he's a leading player. In the recent 600 final, the strong-running winner was doing his best running late on, producing a flying finish to deny the recent Easter Cup winner, Lemon Orla. That's strong form, and if producing a half-decent start, a big run is expected.

Burgess Hazel, for JJ Fennelly, is a big local runner, and she has plenty of recent form around course and distance. Not beaten far when back in third last time out, prior to that, she delivered a fine performance when beating Boylesports Blue around Limerick. Capable of a quick start, if leading early, she would then take the world of catching. 

In the opening heat, Boylesports Blue should go well for trainer Paul Hennessy and owner John Boyle. A previous 41.49 winner around course and distance, if returning to that sort of form, he would be hard to beat. Another positive is that he saves his best form for the inside of the track, so the draw next to the rails is a massive plus. If doing things right, it will take a big performance to turn him over. Valhalla Vision is the obvious danger, and the big local runner should go well for trainer Ryan McCarthy and owners Darren and Sean O'Hea. She's got plenty of staying form in the book, and she returned to winning form over the standard trip last week, clocking a smart 28.65. Hitting top form at the right time, she's a huge danger to the selection.

The second heat is a wide-open affair with a narrow vote going to Desert Flower. Trained by Kieran Lynch for owners the Hold On To Your Hat Syndicate, the selection delivered a top-class 41.65 winning run around course and distance last time out. It was a really smart display, and there's no doubt that this is a massive rise in class; however, she looks ready for the challenge.

Paul Hennessy's Lennies Desire has plenty of form in the book, and if he produces one of his best starts, he would be a danger to all. Jacktavern Boom, for trainer David Byrne, was a fine winner last week, and he should be in the mix once more; however, he will need to produce a slightly better start in this company. While the Shaun Conway Jaypees Cooper is not without a chance from the rails pitch.

Elsewhere on the card, in the third, Let Fly Missy, trained by John Linehan, looks capable of bouncing out in front and making all in the sprint. The fast-starting selection has a couple of fancy runs in the book, and this looks like a good winning opportunity.

Back to the opener, Cuile Line Best is drawn to perfection along the rails, and he should give it a good go from the front. All about early speed, the selection has a couple of decent recent lines of form in the book. Trained by Eamonn Morton, he is selected to make every yard of the running in this. As usual, the first of the night will get underway at 7.40 pm.