TREATY BIDS TO MAKE HISTORY BUT DIEGO FAVOURITE AHEAD OF CALLAWAY PRO AM @ STUD ST. LEGER FINAL

Peter Farrell

All eyes are on Limerick Greyhound Stadium later tonight as the final of the Callaway Pro Am @ Stud Irish St. Leger concludes and while Hello Diego is the one to beat ahead of the €30,000 decider, Clonbrien Treaty is bidding to make history as he aims to become the first greyhound to claim three St. Leger titles.

Kindly sponsored by Denis Murphy, the man behind the ‘Callaway’ prefix, the St. Leger renewal was a case of quality over quantity at the outset and we have a thrilling final in store as a result. Hello Diego has been the standout performer throughout the Classic with a series of sensational performances for Paul Hennessy and he is the deserved favourite coming into the decider.

A LOOK AT THE FINALISTS

T1 - BLASTOFF HEFFO (Owner: Philip Buckley)

Bidding to give his owner a second Leger triumph after landing the 2018 event, ‘Heffo’ has caught the eye on numerous occasions during his fourteen starts and arrives with strong claims after being handed a favourable draw in red. A son of Dorotas Wildcat, this dog was a finalist in the recent National Produce Stakes at Clonmel and is certainly capable of a big performance if he can muster up one of his better starts. Normally does his best work down the back so will be hoping for a clear passage to the turn and perhaps a little traffic up front.

T2 - DROMBEG BANNER (Owner: Evan McAuliffe)

One of the outsiders of the field but here on merit and will be bidding to give his young handler a second big-race success after Evan landed the valuable Fonez Galway Oaks in 2024. Boasts an incredible fifty-per-cent winning record and could prove a thorn in the side of the likes of Clonbrien Treaty on the run-up. A winner of the Paddy O’Gorman A1/A2 stake earlier this year at Galway, ‘Banner’ is all about early speed and will need to be at sharpest at traprise if he is to cause what would be an upset against this classy lineup.

T3 - CAGEY BILLY (Owner: Christopher Delaney)

Another who will be hoping to upset the apple cart is the Tipperary raider, ‘Billy’. A very unlucky second place finisher in the recent Tipperary Cup at Thurles saw the son of Pestana arrive at Limerick cherry-ripe for a tilt at Classic glory. He has recently clocked some brilliant figures such as 28.66 around Thurles and 31.02 for the 575-yard trip at HQ, so he can certainly mix it with the best when given the freedom to maneuver. Should receive plenty of room tonight with two fast starters on either side, however, whether he can pick-up his rivals come the business end remains to be seen. One for the trios!

T4 - CLONBRIEN TREATY (Owners: James & Muireann Murphy - Trainer: Graham Holland)

The two-time defending champ returns for a bid for an historic third St. Leger title. If doing so, that will bring his overall Classic tally to five after previously landing the Con & Annie Kirby and the Bresbet Easter Cup. A superstar tracker who looks like a certain leader tonight. The son Pestana overcame his tricky draw in four last weekend and will have to do so again in order to cement his status as one of the immortals in greyhound racing terms. Unlikely to break as poorly this time around as he did in the semis, ‘Treaty’ is a huge player and he will hope his ‘catch me if you can’ tactics can see him through to the finishing line tonight.

T5 - HELLO DIEGO (Owner: Paul Hynes - Trainer: Paul Hennessy)

The deserved favourite after a string of sensational performances since arriving at Limerick. Started off his career winning an unraced stake at Kilkenny in a swashbuckling 28.50 and has gone from strength to strength since with his now-customary huge finishes from the halfway mark. Came to the fore with a number of big performances at Towcester earlier this year, however, has taken off since coming to Limerick and his 29.41 quarter final clock is unrivaled up to this point. Drawn very well in five, ‘Diego’ will look to use Clonbrien Treaty as a buffer early on and pick his rival off in the closing stages of the contest. A serious player as he bids to give Paul Hennessy a fifth Leger title.

T6 - FLIGHT CLUB (Owner: Carol O’Riordan - Trainer Paul Hennessy)

A second runner for the great Paul Hennessy and certainly not here to make up the numbers. The son of Good News is the most inexperienced runner in the lineup with just ten starts under his belt and is incredibly without a win since his 28.56 win in debut. Another that will be doing his best work late in the day, the strapping white and black will look to capitalize on any potential traffic and pick the pieces thereafter. Another that will be popular with trio punters and very well-drawn in trap six.

THE VERDICT

While Hello Diego is a deserved favourite coming into the decider, CLONBRIEN TREATY is the selection given he looks a sure leader in the contest. Graham Holland’s exquisite blue completely fluffed his lines at traprise last weekend, however, still headed his rivals at the opener. As a result, should he trap at least level with the field, he looks sure to open a healthy lead down the back. Hello Diego has huge claims and will bid to pick his rival off from the midway mark. In contrast, he was on the receiving end of a ping break last time out, however, he doesn't normally come away as fluently as he did on that occasion. If he can duplicate that start, he will likely give Paul Hennessy another Leger title but should he regress to his normal starts, he may well have to play second fiddle for the first time in the competition. Of the remaining finalists, Blastoff Heffo gets the vote to fill the podium off a fine draw on the fence.

Selection - 4-5-1

*****

TOOLATE CAN LAND LIMERICK & CLARE GOBA

The final of the Limerick & Clare GOBA A1 525 serves as the supporting act on a top-class card and it was hard not to be impressed with the performance of Toolate Tomorrow in the semis.

On that occasion, Kieran O’Dwyer’s charge came flying through the field to pick his rivals off and win in a rapid 28.59. If the blue-brindle improves his start in any way from trap five, he should prove much too strong for his rivals in the €1,000 decider. Tally Ho Rose is the likely leader alongside Gulleen Ina in one and it could make for interesting viewing should one of the duo break loose down the back. Elsewhere, Rallyingairfield showed plenty in defeat last time out and also has claims in trap six.

JOSEPE COULD BE SPECIAL

The opening race on the card is a novice 750 and Toolmaker Josepe is a really intriguing entry for Robert Gleeson and William Hyslop.

This greyhound has phenomenal pace from the halfway mark over the standard trip and certainly gives the impression that a step-up to six bends will suit. Indeed, if he is as effective over the marathon distance as he is over four-bends, he could be really special.

BAMBI RETURNS IN OPEN 750

Braveheart Bambi was last seen when securing an unbeaten passage through the Corn Cuchulainn and the Pat Buckley-trained superstar returns in the Open 750 tonight.

Indeed, ‘Bambi’ should prove too hot to handle for her rivals if stripping at her peak, however, race rust could be a worry. Drawn in three, the daughter of Deerjet Sydney may just have enough to continue her winning streak but she can ill-afford any slip-ups with the likes of Coolavanny Shona and Daleroad Poppy amongst her rivals.

KIRBY CHAMP RETURNS TO LIMERICK

Faypoint Ranger returns to the scene of his greatest achievement in race eight as he heads the Open 525 for Patricia Flanagan and Graham Holland.

A brilliant winner of the richest juvenile event back in April, Faypoint Ranger would have needed the run at Shelbourne last time out as he notably faded, however, expect a much sharper performance this time around at his favoured track. Drawn brilliantly in trap one, ‘Ranger’ can return to his very best this time around and lead Glengar Martha home. Of the others, Produce Stakes winner Lemon Joey also has claims in trap five.