Better Call Caul: Cody too Good in Irish Laurels final
Good Cody added another big race win to his mighty impressive CV when running out a game and determine winner of the Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.
A genuine case could be made for all six finalists going to boxes, and it was Swords Rex who was sent off favourite at $3.25 just ahead of blitz finisher Ballymac Whispa, who was well supported into $3.50 at the off having been as big as $7 early in the week.
As expected, Serene Ace led up early with Galloping Sydney making a decent exit and moving inwards on the run up and in turn leaving plenty of room for Swords Rex to operate out wide.
Things got tight around the first bend with Serene Ace now taking a two-length advantage into the back straight with Good Cody behind and Swords Rex now emerging from the crowding in behind and setting off behind the leading pair in a menacing third down the back straight.
Serene Ace has stamina issues over the trip and looked in trouble around the bottom bends as Good Cody moved to his outside, and at this stage it looked like Swords Rex was in the box seat.
As they turned for home, however, Rex checked slightly as he waited for a gap to appear up the inside of the fading Serene Ace.
Meanwhile, Good Cody had set sail for home and had nicked a valuable length on Swords Rex, who couldn't claw back the deficit on the short run for home.
It was Ballymac Whispa who came from the clouds to snatch second place, three parts of a length off Good Cody and a short head ahead of Swords Rex.
It was a thrilling finale and Good Cody was a deserving winner for his excellent trainer, Pat Guilfoyle.
Supporting card at Curraheen Park
As well a brilliant Laurels final, we were also treated to a star-studded undercard at Cork featuring most of Ireland's biggest canine stars.
Illnotbeback was the star of the undercard when breaking the track record in the open bitch 525 on the card. Here, Oaks runner-up Scooby Duchess took a flier and held a clear lead into the back straight, but Illnotbeback was simply sensational when storming past at halfway and going on to win by five lengths in 27.78.
Leading Irish sprinter Flashing Willow was sent to traps long odds-on for the two-bend contest, but it was the remarkable Skylight Blake who made it victory number 33 to upset the unlucky favorite.
English Derby finalist Hello Hammond made it five wins from six outings over six bends when he once again got the better of old rival Pablo Escobark in taking the 686m event on the card.
Recent Yvonne Barry Open 600 winner Bockos Crystal just held off Magical Mary in a thrilling finish to the open 575 on the card, and we saw the return to action of 2022 English Derby winner Romeo Magico, who made a winning return when taking the open 550 while beating Tommy Too Many, who ran well in second.
Both the winner and runner-up are now Limerick bound this weekend for the start of the St Leger.
St Leger at Limerick on Saturday night
The final Classic of the year commences at Limerick Greyhound Stadium this Saturday night, and as expected we have numerous big hitters heading west to try claim the prize.
We will have 11 heats in the first round, with eight second-round heats due for Saturday week. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of allowing four greyhounds to qualify from first-round heats, but this year five of the fastest fifth-place finishers will also qualify for the second round. I would rather see one less round in the event and two dogs qualify from some first-round heats.
Let's look at some of the notable heats on Saturday.
Pat Buckley's duo of Bobsleigh Dream and Scarty Yank clash in the opener. Scarty Yank looked a dog of huge promise earlier in the year but will need to improve on recent trial efforts. Storys Cashout will be an obvious danger.
Recent Curraheen Park track-record breaker Illnotbeback is the standout name in heat two, where she is joined by Tullig Raven, who rates the main danger with the ever-popular Beach Avenue also in the lineup.
Race of Champions winner Bockos Budsit will be well fancied in heat five, where Magical Mary will be a massive danger if she can repeat last week's run when chasing home Bockos Crystal at Curraheen Park.
Laurels runner-up Ballymac Whispa should relish the extra yardage, and her main danger in heat six will undoubtably be kennel companion and recent Puppy Oaks winner Ballymac Run in box one after her stunning runs around Shelbourne Park in the last couple of weeks.
Hoodoo Brown and Bockos Crystal are the big names in heat seven, although there is better to come from Deadly Showtime in box two.
Barefoot Supremo and Droopys Edison should dominate heat eight from the inside, while youngster Trinity Junior is not without a chance and could represent some value.
Heat nine sees the return to action of Irish Derby runner-up Ballymac Finn, who has a tough assignment against the likes of Vincenzo, Hannover Phantom and big finisher Storys Peewee.
The clash of the night could come in heat 10, where English Derby champion Romeo Magico takes on Ballinabola Ed in what promises to be a cracking contest.
The action is completed in heat 11, where Wi Can Dream and Ballymore Border and Gaston Pecas are the big names in a tricky finale.
Ladies steal the limelight at Shelbourne Park
Shelbourne Park once again had a tremendous card on show for its Saturday night showpiece featuring the finals of the Puppy Oaks and the valuable Paddy Merriman Memorial A1 525.
The Puppy Oaks looked a classy affair with six top-class young bitches on show; however, the market got it spot on. Last week's impressive semifinal winners, Ballymac Run and Three Cannons, were well supported in the betting ring from the off, along with Up The Style.
From one, Ballymac Run made a fast start and led up Three Cannons with the remainder of the runners involved in minor bumping around the opening turn. Ballymac Run is a powerful young bitch and once leading she was never in any real danger. Three Cannons tried in vain to close, but at the line Ballymac Run had two and a half lengths in hand over her rival in a rapid 28.17. The winner is now off to Limerick for this weekend's St Leger.
Undulation ran out a facile winner of the Paddy Merriman Memorial A1 525. Here Whyaye Man and Coolavanny Raven were well supported and dominated the market, but the complexion of the race changed dramatically at the opening turn when most of the field sought an inside line and it was Undulation for Brendan Matthews who was best placed on the rails from her trap one slot. She made the most of the trouble in behind and eventually crossed the line with nine lengths in hand in 28.24.
The UK scene
The Puppy Oaks will continue at Towcester this Sunday afternoon with for second-round heats. The Towcester card will also feature the semifinals of the Sovereign Stakes over 270m for the sprinters.
In the Puppy Oaks, the first of the second-round heats may well be the hottest. Recent Oxford Puppy Collar finalist Lively Lauren is one to keep onside despite her defeat at odds-on in the first round — she remains capable of much better. Lively Lauren will need to be at her best in a tough heat containing the two that finished ahead of her last week, My Girl Mia and Makeit Swallow. I still think Lauren will come on for last week's run and take the first heat.
Queen Pink has a big time advantage on the clock and should comfortably take heat two. Selsey Bullet can take the third heat, which looks the weakest on paper, and the last heat can go the way of the in-form My Girl Bella for Seamus Cahill.
In the first semifinal of the Sovereign Stakes, Newtown Sydney is almost impossible to beat if he can come away on terms. He has missed the kick on his last two starts but has been handed box one again this weekend and a level start should suffice.
Gougane Jet and Ballymac Slapup will dominate the second semi, and I'll side with Gougane Jet to get the better of his market rival and return to winning ways.
Weekend's best bets
Towcester Sunday
Greyhound
Lively Lauren
Bet Type
Win
Stake
2 units
*Odds correct at time of publication
Greyhound
Newtown Sydney
Bet Type
Win
Stake
2 units
*Odds correct at time of publication