HEAVYWEIGHTS CLASH IN OPENING ROUND OF WILLWEGO.COM IRISH ST. LEGER

Peter Farrell

All eyes turn to Limerick later tonight as the opening round heats of the Willwego.com Irish St. Leger get underway and those in attendance are certain to be treated to some incredible action with 78 of the Country’s best trackers taking to the Dock Road circuit.

Kindly sponsored by Willwego.com, they have been richly rewarded with a fabulous entry for the final Classic of the year and the pick of the thirteen heats on offer is heat eight as Swords Rex, Bens Teddy and Clonbrien Treaty all lock horns in what should be a fascinating contest.

HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH

Indeed, with Swords Rex going up against Clonbrien Treaty, it will see the 2022 and 2023 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial winner’s go head-to-head and the Graham Holland-trained duo will both be expected to safely advance into the next round. After a credible fourth on his return to the Munster venue a fortnight ago, Clonbrien Treaty showed his well-being with a brilliant performance last time out and, as a result, he gets the narrow vote to prevail in trap six. That said, he will need to maintain consistency with his trapping if he is to go deep into this stake but he showed during his Kirby triumph that he is more than capable of stringing a run together. Swords Rex is the obvious threat and should he trap in front from two, it will take a mighty effort to reel Barbara Lowndes’ tracker in. Elsewhere, Bens Teddy will be the choice of many to eventually land the final Classic of the year and he too has strong claims from three, while Pat Buckley’s other representative is Glengar Martha and she is drawn perfectly in red to give a good account of herself.

REIGNING CHAMP TO GET OFF TO A FLIER

The 2022 Irish St. Leger champ is Bobsleigh Dream and she should get off to a flier in heat ten for Willie Joe Murphy and Pat Buckley.

Most scribes have run out of superlatives to describe Bobsleigh Dream and the daughter of Droopys Sydney will be chasing an incredible third Classic win as she kick-starts her campaign from a plumb draw in two. In truth, she has been handed a fairly straightforward assignment, certainly in qualification terms, and she is the obvious selection to prevail. Of her main dangers, Ballymac Walt has a big engine and should suit Limerick, while Da Bold Freddie handed defeat to Bobsleigh in their last meeting and can go well for Paul Hennessy in four.

SOBER FOR GLORY

Another standout contest is heat seven when Ballymac Finn, Sober Glory and Ryhope Beach take to traps.

The verdict on this occasion goes to Sober Glory as he continues to progress into one of the fastest greyhounds in the land. Trained by Karol Ramsbottom for Sean Malone, the son of Droopys Sydney clocked a scarcely believable 28.37 .10s around Kilkenny in his most recent trial and anything close to that will see him run out a convincing winner. Ballymac Finn was simply brilliant in the Irish Derby prior to his withdrawal and is the main threat in trap one, while there is no doubt that Ryhope Beach is one the fastest in the Country in terms of raw speed and will hope to rediscover his best form in trap six.

HEAT WATCH

Heat 1 - In the opening heat of the night, the vote goes to Romeo Hanzo to get Graham Holland off to a winning start. A top-class performer on his day, he will need to overcome a tricky draw in four, however, there isn’t an awful lot of early speed in this contest and can get first run. Of his rivals, Ballymac Whispa and Pablo Escobark and Garfiney Blaze will also be finishing with a wet sail.

Heat 2 - Heat two will see the return of Champion Stakes winner, Trinity Junior, and the Peter Cronin-trained tracker is fresh from a fast 28.34 trial at Limerick. Facing a tricky draw in five, he will need to be at his sharpest to prevail with the likes of De Gander Pen and Newinn Port amongst his opposition. Throw in the likes of Ballinabola Una and this is a very competitive contest which will take a bit of winning.

Heat 3 - One of the standout performances, not just at Limerick but across the Country last week, was that of Deadly Style in the AAO 550 and he will be warm order in trap six. Clocking 29.45 on that occasion, he has good outright claims of landing the Classic and should comfortably come through his opening round assignment. Of his main threats, Goldcash Ice and Boylesports Gift can give the jolly most to think about.

Heat 4 - Mr Chelm showed signs of a return to his best form throughout this year’s Irish Derby and he is the selection in heat four. His recent trial is encouraging and he is well-house in trap three to get first run on the likes of Ballymac Run in four, and Hukum in trap five.

Heat 5 – Arguably one of the more open contests of the thirteen heats, it is Millridge Levi who gets the nod to build on his fantastic 28.10 clock at Tralee last time out. Drawn in five, he will need to overcome that particular obstacle but a level break can see him prevail over the likes of Blackstone Lacey and Clonbrien Ollie.

Heat 6 – Michael O’Donovan has a select but very strong team in this year’s Irish St. Leger and Another Holiday is a likely favourite in heat six. Fresh from a scintillating 18.51 sprint trial at Limerick, he is well drawn in three and if leading, will prove a tough nut to crack. Music Glideaway is the obvious danger in six and should safely advance for Pat Guilfoyle.

Heat 9 – One of the shortest favourites of the night could be Bockos Crystal in heat nine and her draw in trap one only adds to her chances. A 28.00 trial winner at Limerick at the start of the month, the Derby runner-up is simply sensational on her day and shouldn’t be too far away in this contest. Beepers Lariat and Annagh Bailey, however, can keep her on her toes.

Heat 11 – Gaytime Hugo is another greyhound who is capable of landing the eventual title and Graham Holland’s runner can secure a third straight victory in heat eleven. The penny seems to have dropped with the son of Gaytime Hawk in terms of consistency and he is well-drawn in two to make-all in this contest. Of his rivals, Move Over Ogie has a massive engine and can progress despite a grade hike, while Millridge Bryce is another capable of putting up attractive figures.

Heat 12 – Droopys Bro was a fine winner of a top-class contest last weekend at Limerick and Murt Leahy’s tracker will be one of main fancies in heat twelve. Drawn in two, he is well housed and showed his steel last time out with a 29.83 victory. However, this is a different kettle of fish and Ballymac Marino has huge claims, while Bredas Wood is one of the fastest females in training and can also go close in one.

Heat 13 – The night will conclude another red-hot contest and Nomadic Nova is the selection for the two Graham’s, Ashe and Holland. The lightly raced son of Broadstrand Bono clocked 28.14 and 28.22 on his last two trials at Limerick and if reproducing that, he will be too hot to handle. Of his rivals, Glengar Elvis is a major player and will also benefit from a plumb draw in red.