RIDDICK GETS THE NOD TO LAND CON MURPHY DECIDER AT LIMERICK
Peter Farrell
Kindly sponsored by Tim Spike Murphy, the Con Murphy Bookmakers A1 525 reaches its climax at Limerick Greyhound Stadium tonight, with the €3,300 decider shaping up as a wide-open affair.
Scattery Beauty goes to traps as the only unbeaten runner left in the field, having produced some outstanding times in the earlier rounds. The Ballymac Cashout bitch impressed with a 28.57 success in round two before bettering that effort with a 28.51 victory last time out. She was pressed all the way on that occasion by Ballinabola Otis and, while clearly in peak form, she will need to be at her very best after being handed a tricky draw in trap four. At the other end of the spectrum, Zenith Efendi looks to have landed ideally in red. Trained by Corona Ryan, he appears to be peaking at just the right time. A convincing 28.61 winner last weekend, the Birol Nadir and Vincent Cooper-owned runner powered clear and, if he can reproduce the 1.31 sectional he has posted on his last two starts, he looks set to command the rail. Should that scenario unfold, the blue jacketed runner will take plenty of catching.
Ballymac Riddick lines up in six and, despite still searching for a first career victory, he must be respected. Owned by Liam Dowling, the son of King Elvis has shown significant ability in defeat throughout the competition and it surely won’t be long before he gets his head in front. With five inside seeds drawn to his inner, this could be the night ‘Riddick’ finally gets loose.
For the fourth week running, Clonnloch Cliste has been dealt a tough hand in trap five. The Owen McKenna-trained runner caught the eye in the semi-finals, showing a sharp turn of foot to recover from a slow start and chase home Zenith Efendi. A 28.86 winner in round two, the Ballymac Vic dog clearly has the talent to trouble any of his rivals, but the draw is a major concern and he will need luck in running.
Ballinabola Otis has really come to the fore in recent weeks for Pat Buckley. While he scored in round two, it was his semi-final run that truly impressed, flashing home late to give Scattery Beauty a real scare. The Glengar Bale youngster, still only a February puppy, has a workable draw for the final in trap three and could secure a handy early position if the pace comes from his inside rivals.
Completing the line-up is Foxwood MacGowan, who is far from an ‘also-ran’. Trained by Denis McGrath, the brindle son of Bockos Jon Jo boasts plenty of ability, as highlighted by his 28.82 success at Galway in mid-November. He has shown good early pace throughout this competition and, if he can ping the lids from trap two, he could avoid potential traffic at the bend and slip clear.
In summary, it is a final where strong cases can be made for all six runners. However, on the strength of the draw, Ballymac Riddick gets the nod as he bids to land a first career success at the seventh attempt.
HARDY CAN CLAIM NEW YEAR STAKE
Elsewhere on the card, two more finals feature, with the ‘Happy New Year A2 525’ taking centre stage in race seven.
With a €900 first prize on offer, Kevinsfort Hardy is the selection following back-to-back victories in the competition. Owned by The Monday-Night-Five Club-Syndicate, ‘Hardy’ impressed in the semi-finals when stopping the clock in a smart 28.83 and he has been further favoured by a plum draw in trap one. Versatile in his running style and equally effective whether leading or coming from off the pace, the Malachi son looks a tough proposition if he can maintain his current vein of form.
WIDE-OPEN ROCHE 575
Earlier on the programme, the Jeremiah and Damien Roche A3 575 final is also worth €900 and Carrigmore Lizzy appeals as the selection for Aoife Coffey.
Drawn in trap five, Carrigmore Lizzy showed real determination in the semi-finals, just holding off the late challenge of Harrowgatetownbaz as she continued her upward trajectory. The Ballymac Finn bitch stopped the clock in 31.67 on that occasion and, as the likely market leader, she looks capable of finding a couple of lengths on that run. It is a wide-open contest nonetheless, with all six runners holding legitimate claims of figuring in the outcome.