GMHD Juvenile Classic starts Friday week

THE biggest event of the year at Tralee, the GMHD Juvenile Classic, gets underway on Friday, February 15, and one can assume that many of the top kennels in the country will again be targeting it.

Every year, it is an event oozing with class and it has produced some marvellous contenders – and winners. Twelve months ago, the maestro himself, Liam Dowling, won the top prize of €14,000 with 4/1 shot, Ballymac Bolger - but only by a short head from the Graham Holland-trained Slippy Cian, which was 5/2 joint favourite along with another Graham Holland-trained finalist, Newinn Blake, which finished fourth.

It is pretty reasonable to assume that Liam Dowling and Graham Holland will be strongly represented again this year and, with other big hitters sure to be taking them on, it all adds to a great sense of expectancy.

The times recorded in trials beforehand will be more than interesting and, for aspiring contenders, such trials can be booked by ringing 061 448057.