Yukan Jack upsets odds-on Hobbs in A7 semi-finals
THERE was a lot of Kerry interest in the Shelbourne Park card on Saturday night and there was disappointment in the big one, the final of the €12,000-to-the-winner Comerford Cakes sweepstake final, which saw the James Melia-trained Frisky Luck emerge as a clear-cut winner in 28.46.
Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Twitter finished second for a consolation prize of €1,500 and another of Liam’s charges, Chespirito, finished fourth (€750), while the Knocknagoshel finalist, Black Agenda, finished sixth (€750).
Liam Dowling also had Coolavanny Pet running for him in the second round of the Gain Christmas Oaks and she finished a close third behind Droopys Lagoon in 28.95. She runs from trap 2 in the second semi-final this Saturday night.
Those at Tralee Track who were hoping to see the Kerry greyhounds running were to be disappointed because of a breakdown in the inter-track service which blanked out all Dublin races from the third to the ninth. “Not again” was the general comment and, really, this is a problem that should not be reoccurring. THE Tralee Supporters’ Club has been coming in behind quite a few sweepstakes at the Oakview venue and the semi-finals of the latest of them, for A7 class over 525yds and worth €1,000 to the winner, headed up Saturday night’s programme.
One winner stood out and that was Yukan Jack, which ran from trap 2 in the second semi-final. The red hot favourite here, at 1/2, was Send It Hobbs, which had shown up really well in the first round when beating none other than Yukan Jack by eight and a half lengths in 29.29.
However, it was a different story this time, as so often happens in greyhound racing. Yukan Jack (5/2) flew past the fast-starting Slippy Premier on the back straight to be well in control by the third bend and he sailed home four lengths ahead of Send It Hobbs in 28.96, with a length and a half back to Slippy.
Could Send It Hobbs come along and upstage Yukan Jack when it matters most in the final this Saturday night? Perhaps. But the claims of Yukan Jack are particularly strong, especially with the first semi-final being won in the much slower time of 29.65 by Farran Buggatti.
Jeremiah Hannafin’s bitch, which ran from trap 2 and was 6/4 second favourite, won by a length and a half from even-money favourite, Bonnan Rory, but nobody doubts that she is capable of a much faster time and she is not without a decent chance from a trap 1 draw.
However, it is very difficult to look beyond Yukan Jack and he is given the vote to win from trap 5.
The draw is (trap order): Farran Buggatti, Send It Hobbs, Slippy Premier, Bonnan Rory, Yukan Jack, Group Fernando.
Racing opened with a very smart run of 17.68 over 325yds by a novice, Ionic Hotspot, while another sprint winner, Renard Ronnie (17.72) was making it three wins from just four starts. Other winners were: Farran Sand, 29.13; Pennylane Missy, 17.99; Brays Book, 29.50; Pennylane Ella, 18.29; Tureenderach, 29.22; Shift Blake Hill, 29.71.
SATURDAY SIS MEETING
SIGN On Garfiney just keeps on delivering for local owner/ trainer, Anthony Slattery, and in scoring scored his 13th victory of 2017 in a time of 29.09 (and justifying 9/4 favouritism in the process), he brought his career winnings to €7,689.
Other winners: Áines Princess, 29.43; Hobo Jack, 29.55; Leaha Sky, 29.18; Millridge Zephyr, 29.10; Promising, 28.94; Fortfield Sam, 28.82; Helenas Joker, 28.94.