UNRACED STARS TO ATTRACT A BIG CROWD TO KILKENNY

Ian Fortune

All roads lead to Kilkenny this evening with the St James Park venue set to welcome a bumper crowd for the final of the Champion Open Unraced.

This year’s renewal has been a vintage one with many of those on show likely to become classic contenders in the future and it is somewhat fitting that tonight’s decider is wide-open affair.

There is a real quality on show in the €13,000 to the winner final and so much will depend on the early exchanges. The semi-final winners Carrick Becks and Glengar Phantom will look to get loose into the bend but Uncle Jim is also capable of a fast start.

Grouchos Frank and Kapuka Coley are brilliantly fast from the second turn, while the outsider of the field Goldcash Legend is not without hope and will also finish at speed. 

BECKS HAS THE RIGHT PROFILE

Carrick Becks has been most progressive through the competition, culminating in a brilliant semi-final victory.

 On that occasion, he had to nudge his way up the inside of the fast-starting Uncle Jim at the turn before quickly putting his rivals to the sword with a devastating turn of pace to halfway.

His reward is another trap one draw and he has very obvious claims for Thomas Glynn and Robert Gleeson, a combination that has won this competition in the recent past.

PHANTOM THE TEAM CAPTAIN FOR BUCKLEY

Glengar Phantom has also improved greatly through the prelims. He was paw-perfect last week, flashing from five to make every inch in 28.88.

He will need another fast start but is clearly a leading fancy for Pat Buckley and Richard Colwell.

The son of Ballinabola Ed is set for a big future and were he to clear the bend this evening, it would need something special from one of his rivals to deny him.

Buckley is also responsible for Grouchos Frank. An October ’24 whelp, he has certainly shown improvement through the competition and is set for a big future. One suspects he will prefer a greater test of stamina and more emphasis on strength going forward but he has enough in his locker to play a part this evening. A fast start would certainly help, however. 

KAROL WITH HIGH HOPES FOR JIM AND COLEY

Karol Ramsbottom is double-handed and both Uncle Jim and Kapuka Coley have strong claims.

Uncle Jim led up last week but failed to secure his rails pitch on the turn. Weighing in at 85lbs, he is still learning how to use his considerable frame and it would be no surprise to see him produce an improved run this evening.

If he can get across Carrick Becks in the early yards, one suspects he may not surrender his advantage quite as easily as last week.

Kapuka Coley was a revelation in the early rounds. Blessed with a big engine and wonderful all-round pace, he is set to race prominently throughout. With a clear passage into the back straight, it would be far from a surprise if he were to mount a bold bid.

LEGEND HAS REAL STRENGTH

Goldcash Legend completes a top-class line-up.

His improvement through the stake has also been quite obvious. A strong running son of Ballymac Cashout, his owners Mairead Doyle and Jack Meade will be hoping he can turn a little closer. Certainly, he needs to post a far faster sectional or he could find himself with plenty of work to do but and traffic on the inside of the track would aid his case. He will continue to develop and could really relish a step up in trip and perhaps a more galloping circuit.

A BRILLIANT FINAL

It’s a brilliant final and one with numerous possible outcomes.

Ultimately, it could come down to which greyhound finds room to race in the early stages. The presence of Uncle Jim is a concern but Carrick Becks seems to be peaking at the right time.

If trapping on terms, his pace into the bend and down the back straight could make the difference. Glengar Phantom, Kapuka Coley and Uncle Jim could all race prominently but in a race of this nature, the inside of the track is the place to be. Carrick Becks to chosen to emerge triumphant at the expense of Glengar Phantom. The best of luck to all involved.

A WONDERFUL CARD SHOWN LIVE ON SIS

Aside from the Champion Open Unraced, there are three others finals up for decision on the Kilkenny card and a very decent undercard.

Five Alley Chief is chosen to emerge on top in the final of the Split The Pot @ Kilkenny Track A4 525, Gortkelly John in the final of the KGOBA A3 525, while it could pay to go with youth over experience in the final of the Oriental Kennels A2 525 with Biorra Prince chosen ahead of Jims Gem.

The action gets underway at 7.31pm and if you can’t journey to Kilkenny, it can be viewed live on www.sisracing.tv