Better Call Caul: All eyes on Limerick for St Leger quarters
Limerick Greyhound Stadium will host the quarter finals of the St Leger on Saturday night. The end-of-year classic attracted a fine entry and, as expected, we have 24 of Ireland's very best remaining in the competition. Let's look at all four heats.
St Leger quarter finals preview
Quarter Final 1
- Wi Can Dream
- Midfield Deano
- Deadly Showtime
- Kilcolgan Zeus
- Bockos Budsit
- Beach Avenue
Wi Can Dream and Kilcolgan Zeus were both good winners last week. Wi Can Dream is the more consistent and dependable of the duo and will have a major say in this if coming away well from the inside box. The early pace in this contest will come from Wi Can Dream, Deadly Showtime and Bockos Budsit in five. Deadly Showtime usually comes away smartly from the middle and if he leads, I think they will struggle to pick him up, he has improved recently and should hold his rivals at bay if leading early. Bockos Budsit ran a cracker to chase home kennel mate and English Derby winner Romeo Magico in the last round, the form of that race looks strong although there is a question mark about the winning time of the race. Beach Avenue never runs a bad race despite his advancing years and will always give you a run for your money, but I'll side with Deadly Showtime to make all for trainer Karol Ramsbottom.
Selection: Deadly Showtime
Quarter Final 2
- Bobsleigh Dream
- Trinity Junior
- Magical Mary
- Bockos Crystal
- Ballinabola Ed
- Oakfront Cadet
I'm sweet on Trinity Junior in this, a young dog with a bright future he ran well in the recent puppy stake around Shelbourne Park. There's not much early pace in this contest and he should comfortably lead up his neighbors in one and three. Ballinabola Ed in five is the main danger and the only one that can go to the corner with Trinity Junior. The field is packed with strong running performers such as Bobsleigh Dream, Magical Mary and recent Shelbourne 600 winner Bockos Crystal. Trinity Junior is much better of the front, and I can see him leading early in this, if he does, I think he'll improve on the clock and make all for trainer Peter Cronin.
Selection: Trinity Junior
Quarter Final 3
- Illnotbeback
- Drombeg Ten
- Gaston Pecas
- Ballymac Whispa
- Vincenzo
- Mustang Jet
What a heat this is. It would be no surprise to see the favorite in this at $4.0. Illnotbeback is in the form of her life after winning her last four starts including breaking the track record around Curraheen Park. Produce Stakes winner Gaston Pecas was back to something like his best when winning last week and can't be discounted. Ballymac Whispa who was third in the recent Irish Laurels will be storming home and will attempt last to first tactics, she really does finish with a flourish and if she's within five or six lengths at halfway she will still hold a major chance. Vincenzo is one of Irelands best on his day. He has posted two stunning efforts around here in the past couple of weeks and should have the legs on the runners on his immediate left on the run to the bend. That leaves us with Mustang Jet, perfectly drawn in six he is unbeaten in this year's event and to me has returned a better greyhound than we seen in the summer. It's a fascinating heat and impossible to be strong on a selection. Ballymac Whispa is a tentative choice to pick up the pieces late in what promising to be a cracking heat.
Selection: Ballymac Whispa
Quarter Final 4
- Romeo Magico
- Ballymac Joey
- Ballymac Run
- All About Annie
- Annagh Bailey
- Ballymore Border
English Derby champion Romeo Magico won his heat when leading early last week. However, the time was a shade disappointing. Magico was all out to hold off his kennel companion Bockos Budsit and the entire field had passed him soon after the line. Despite winning it was a performance that left us with more questions than answers. If there are any doubts about his fitness he simply won't run, he owes connections nothing and you can be sure if he lines up on Saturday night he will be at the peak of his powers. Recent Racing Post Greyhound TV Puppy Oaks winner Ballymac Run is still running with real credit and can make them all go with one of her fast starts. Dublin Cup winner Ballymore Border is another who is more than capable on his day and has a perfect draw in six. It may be unwise to rule out Annagh Bailey from five, he ran a remarkable race last weekend when just behind Bockos Crystal and Ballinabola Ed, that form is rock solid. For me it's hard to oppose Romeo Magico and if he lines up, I feel he will take plenty of beat in the final heat.
Selection: Romeo Magico
Stars stepping out at Shelbourne Park
While Limerick will be the center of attention on the Irish calendar this weekend, Shelbourne Park will host the final of the Talking Dogs Open 525 as well as the semifinals of the IGOBF Open 525.
In the Talking Dogs final, Irish Derby runner-Up Ballymac Finn will once again lock horns with Callaway Masters, who went off favorite for this year's Derby. Flying early pacer Serene Ace is also in the line up along with Allforthebest, Bogger Hunter and Droopys Rocker. Rocker got the better of Serene Ace and Ballymac Finn in last week's semifinal but its hard to see him going to the corner as quickly this week. Serene Ace looks a certain leader and whatever gets first run on him will have a massive chance to run him down late on. On the draw I'll side with Callaway Pro Am to turn a handy second and pick up Serene Ace late on.
In the IGOBF National Puppy Stake, four members of the brilliant Pestana x Unlock Unlock litter will line up. Romeo Kodi has a slight advantage on the clock in the first semifinal, but a genuine case can be made for all with the Unlock Unlock sisters Undulation and Press Unlock well drawn in one and six respectively. In the second semifinal another one of that fabulous litter Undisputed will take plenty of beating. She was an emphatic winner last week when beating her sister Up In Style. The promising Ballymac Johnjo is well drawn in one but Undisputed looks the one to be on in semifinal two. Her main danger could emerge in the shape of the very lightly raced Rathdown Molly in box four.
Quality morning card at Crayford
Crayford will host four finals on Saturday morning live on Racing Post Greyhound TV.
First up is the Ladbrokes Grand National over the jumps at 11:24 where Lenson Doolin gets the nod. He missed the kick last week but can reverse the form with Magical Oscar. Borna Rhythm has an ace draw out in six and is incredibly fast when things fall his way, however his tardy starts tend to leave him with plenty do to. Lenson Doolin is classy on the level and over hurdles and can take this with a decent exit.
The Ladbrokes Cesarewitch is up next over a sharp 10 bends. The stamina sapping 874m trip obviously requires an abundance of stamina, but you need to be on your toes early to get a decent position around the tight Crayford circuit. Blueberry Bullet was beaten at long odds on in last weekend's semifinal, but she can go up much better and stays the trip strongly. She is a bitch who fits the bill in this, she can go up well and has winning form over further.
The third final on the card is the Ladbrokes Gold Collar over 540m. Savana Ruinart was quickest in last weeks semifinals and has the scope to go even quicker. However, I feel she's worth taking on this weekend. Personally, I don't think she has the early pace to get to the front and I can see her struggling for racing room around the opening turns. Peejays Forever is running at the top of her game at the moment as has the early pace to go clear, although she has a bit to find on the clock on Savana Ruinart, I feel the early lead is crucial. I'll side with Peejays Forever to make all in the Gold Collar Final at 12:24.
The remaining final on the card is due off at 12:54, it is the final of The Ladbrokes Kent Rose Bowl where Icaals Rocco is hard to oppose from an ideal draw in red and should take all the beating.
Gold Cup headlines Oxford bill on Friday
The final of the Oxfordshire Gold Cup will highlight the Oxford card on Friday evening and will be live on RPGTV. Swift Iconic Has been installed as the odds-on favorite after two unbeaten runs in the event thus far. Twolengthstoogood ran well behind Swift Iconic last weekend but could never quite get on terms. If Swift Iconic can reproduce his early sectionals of last week, he looks a certain leader. Iconic is only an October 2020 whelp and can be expected to improve further if he dictates. Annual Sydney in one and Burnchurch Mick in two can go up strongly on occasions but will need to be alert at trap rise to beat Swift Iconic to the punch. I will side with Swift Iconic to make all.
Earlier on the Oxford card we will have the final of Oxfordshire Maiden Vase. Barley Panther looks hard to oppose here after two stunning runs in recent weeks. He looks to have an ace draw and is expected to make all. Supa Nova chased him home in last weeks semifinal but lacks the early pace to get involved in this for me. The main danger could be Outdoor Ice in four for trainer Matt Dartnall, another who has won his last two starts, if he can lead up the selection he will make a bold bid for glory, he will need to do everything right if he's to pull it off.
Weekend's best bet
Limerick Saturday
Greyhound
Trinity Junior
Bet Type
Win
Odds
3 units
*Odds correct at time of publication