WIDE OPEN AFFAIR IN BOYLE SPORTS LIFFORD OAKS DECIDER

Peter Farrell

The €15,000-to-the-winner BOYLE Sports Lifford Oaks takes centre stage at Lifford Greyhound Stadium tonight and, with six talented finalists set to battle it out for the prestigious title, a cracking decider looks in store.

A large crowd is expected to descend on the Northwest venue tonight, with patrons set to be treated to a mouthwatering decider. Pat Guilfoyle boasts a particularly strong hand with kennel companions Magical Be Nifty and Magical Fiona, while Berry On Faya and Ballymac Jetaway arrive fresh from landing their respective semi-finals. Throw in the strong-running Gealltanas Grace and local track specialist Drveen Lass, and all the ingredients are in place for a thrilling finale.

A LOOK AT THE FINALISTS

T1 – BERRY ON FAYA

The quickest semi-final winner and a leading contender following two eye-catching performances over the past fortnight. Trained by Murt Leahy for Peter and Cian Mulrooney, ‘Berry’ produced a powerful finish to deny Magical Be Nifty by half a length in a rapid 28.65 last weekend, having also finished strongly when narrowly denied by Cosmic Dancer in the opening round. Has relished the demanding Lifford hill and, with a potentially excellent draw in red, will be bidding to turn handy before unleashing her customary late surge. Few will be finishing faster and she holds strong claims.

T2 – BALLYMAC JETAWAY

The local hope who would prove a hugely popular winner should she outrun her odds for the second consecutive week. Representing Rebecca Porter and Alan Byrne, the daughter of Ballymac Best – Ballymac Merkle caused a major upset in the semi-finals, defying odds of 10/1 to land the spoils in 28.84. Showed excellent trackcraft to sweep up the inside of Drveen Lass around the bottom two bends before fending off the late challenge of Gealltanas Grace. Will need to gain the early ascendancy over her inside rival if she is to enter calculations, but arrives with confidence high.

T3 – MAGICAL BE NIFTY

The likely favourite and bidding to add the Lifford Oaks to her Galway Oaks title, captured earlier this year when defeating last year’s winner, Magical Mag. Also a Munster Oaks runner-up, the Pat Guilfoyle-trained star made an impressive start to the competition with a commanding four-length victory in 28.77. Looked destined to make it two from two before being collared late by Berry On Faya, but lost little in defeat. A top-class lady, ‘Nifty’ is ideally housed on the inside of her kennel companion and looks set to make a bold bid for her Classic-winning connections.

T4 – MAGICAL FIONA

The second of the Guilfoyle runners, ‘Fiona’ will appreciate a return to the middle after missing the kick from trap one in the semi-finals. Produced a brilliant opening-round performance when posting a rapid 2.53 sectional and looked set for victory before being reeled in by Drumdoit Audrey in the dying strides. Boasts a 28.36 best in the competition and a repeat of that level of performance would make her extremely difficult to beat. Has huge pace throughout and is likely to dispute favouritism on the night.

T5 – DRVEEN LASS

The second of the local runners and already a three-time competition winner at the Northwest venue. A proven track specialist, Jim Joe McGrath’s star has once again demonstrated her liking for Lifford, finishing runner-up to Magical Be Nifty in the opening round before producing a flying 2.63 sectional to lead her semi-final. Has been dealt an unfavourable draw in the decider and will need to produce one of her customary flying starts to spring a surprise.

T6 – GEALLTANAS GRACE

Has proved a revelation throughout the Oaks and boasts a brilliant opening-round victory over Droopys Crispy, when making every yard in 28.55. Representing the Feel-Good-Racing-Syndicate, ‘Grace’ subsequently produced another eye-catching display in the semi-finals, finishing strongly to chase home Ballymac Jetaway. Boasts a 28.35 best and, as the sole wide runner, should enjoy plenty of freedom on the outside. A fast start would greatly enhance her prospects, but she has the finishing power to ask serious questions of the principals. A major threat.

THE VERDICT

MAGICAL BE NIFTY gets the vote to add another title to her growing CV and looks ideally positioned to make her early pace count. The Galway Oaks champion has impressed throughout the competition and, although collared late by Berry On Faya in the semi-finals, lost little in defeat after setting a strong gallop out in front. Likely to improve further, she is crucially drawn on the inside of kennel companion Magical Fiona, which could prove decisive. With a clear passage into the opening bend, ‘Nifty’ looks the likely leader and could prove difficult to reel in. The main threat may come from Gealltanas Grace (T6), who has handled the demanding Lifford circuit with ease thus far. As the sole wide runner, she should enjoy plenty of room to manoeuvre and, given her powerful finishing kick, could ask serious questions of the selection come the business end.

*****

WELL-DRAWN GRANNY CAN REMAIN UNBEATEN

The final of the Northwest Greyhound Supplies A2/A3 525 serves as the supporting act on the card and Green Me Granny gets the nod to land the €2,000 decider.

Unbeaten in four starts thus far, Green Me Granny has shown tremendous pace and power throughout the competition and is superbly drawn in trap three tonight. The Matthews-trained runner missed the kick in the semi-finals from trap one and, having moved notably right on the run-up, should be much better suited to his middle berth tonight. That said, the son of Ballymac Cashout – Ougham Sky has been far from fluent at traprise and can ill-afford to concede too much ground to his rivals. Chief amongst those rivals is fastest semi-final winner Roanna Ranger. The lightly raced son of Pestana boasts a fine combination of early pace and stamina and looks a likely leader from trap six. Much will depend on how close Green Me Granny can turn, but ‘Ranger’ holds strong claims for Sean Maxwell and could prove difficult to reel in. Elsewhere, both Gettin Tipsy and Drumnafern Balor are capable of landing an event of this calibre, although both may need to produce career-best performances to do so. Meanwhile, Old Fort Jingo and On The Wire are well drawn on the inside but may need a slice of luck to make the frame.