High hopes for Carmac Express

TWO rounds are behind us and the field has been reduced to just twelve, but the Speedrite Dogfood Rose Of Tralee A4 525 Sweepstake (winner, €2,250) has turned out to be a particularly open affair and, for sure, nothing is guaranteed in the semi-finals this Friday night.

This is an event steeped in tradition, won by a lot of great greyhounds over the years and Timmy Carmody, of Ardfert, is well entitled to hope that his greyhound, Carmac Express, will join the illustrious list of winners come the Tuesday night finale on Festival Of Kerry Week.

That’s because Carmac Express, a January ’16 son of Scolari Me Daddy and Carmac Cyrus, produced the fastest time of 28.67 in the second round of the event last Friday night.

Carmac Express had won his first-round heat in 29.23 and it was some reflection on the handling skills of Timmy Carmody that he was able to improve 56 spots, or eight lengths, from one week to the next – in just his fourth race at that.

Carmac Express, second favourite at 2/1, was running from trap 2 in heat 3 and, although Lithuanian Boss was the early leader from trap 3, he impressively motored to the front on the back straight, to be two and-a-half lengths ahead of 6/4 favourite, Saleen Brax, and Lithuanian Boss, rounding the third bend and he kept the gallop going really well to score by two and a half lengths from Saleen Brax, with the same distance back to Lithuanian Boss.

Liam Dowling is also a man who is entitled to have serious designs on the splendid winner’s purse, for the very good reason that two bitches which he owns, Ballymac Helena and Coolavanny Fancy, easily made it through to Friday night’s semi-finals.

Ballymac Helena (3/1) made all from trap 5 to win heat 2 in 28.88 by half a length from 6/1 outsider, Tailteann Storm, which ran on with real gusto, while Coolavanny Fancy (4/1), which also ran from trap 5, made up nice ground from the third bend home to be beaten by just three-quarters of a length in 28.86 by the fastest first-round winner, Promising, which was sent off the 1/2 favourite.

Interestingly, Promising had also clocked 28.86 in the first round and this wide seed comes up against Ballymac Helena in the second semi-final, with the latter housed in trap 1.

The remaining second-round winner was Black Agenda, which justified 4/6 favouritism in winning the opening heat from trap 1. The best start was achieved from trap 3 by 2/1 second favourite, Donnchas Glory, but Black Agenda was nicely positioned on his inside rounding the third bend and Brendan Begley’s charge drove on well to beat Donnchas Glory by two length in 28.80.

In sharp contrast to the first round when only Promising and Cliffs Of Moher got inside 29.00secs, all second-round winners managed to be inside 29.00sec this time and it will be very interesting to see what kind of times will be posted on Friday night. Carmac Express has set the new standard and he will certainly command plenty of attention from a trap 4 draw in the first semi-final, with Black Agenda opposing from trap 3.

The draw for the semi-finals is (trap order): First semi-final: Coolavanny Fancy, Tailteann Storm, Black Agenda, Carmac Express, Lithuanian Boss, Doonchas Glory. Second semi-final: Ballymac Helena, Coconut Crusader, Lacey Lazer, Saleen Brax, Cliffs Of Moher, Promising (W).

Also run off last Friday night was a qualifier for the Boylesports Irish Derby and this was won most impressively by the Liam Dowling-trained Iwao, which was a 4/1 outsider running from trap 6.

The Owen McKenna-trained Blackstone Ollie was sent off the even-money favourite from trap 1, but he missed the break and never had any chance of beating Iwao, which sailed home five and-a-half lengths ahead of Redzer Rocco in 29.92 for the 550yds trip.

Over 325yds, there was a run of 17.55 by that brilliant Listowel sprinter, Lacken Charlie, while the other winners were:

Feora Daithi, 18.02; Steeple Rd Swift, 28.97; Bridewell Kit, 29.02; Timaru Fancy, 29.14.