DAZZLER’S ALL SET FOR A KNOCK-OUT
THIS weekend is the busiest of the year so far! In Shelbourne Park we have the €10,000 Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks Final and the opening round of the €15,000 Shelbourne Open 600.
In Limerick we have the €80,000 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Final, kindly sponsored by JP & Noreen Mcmanus with a wonderful bonus from the famous racehorse owner.
As Limerick Greyhound Stadium prepares for their biggest event of the year, there is an additional treat in store with the news that the venue will welcome special guest I AM Maximus, the reigning Aintree Grand National Champion.
Bookmakers have made Merits Inclusion the 9/4 favourite to win the massive pot for trainer Brendan Matthews, a winner of this race in 2014 and
’15 with
Boylesports Hero and Cable Bay.
Son
Merits Inclusion is improving week after week. This son of Dromana Bucko-million Dreams has won his last two heats clocking 28.31 and 28.24 respectively showing brilliant pace which makes him the worthy favourite.
The one that I really like is 4/1 chance Knockeen Dazzler for Daniel O’rahilly from Castleisland.
A brilliant seminal winner in 28.23 after displaying early pace to beat trap one here Romeo Kingpin for Graham Holland.
Holland has won the last two running’s of this prestigious race.
He has already won wearing the red jacket with 28.24 clocked so if he breaks as well as he can then he will be the target for the rest of them.
Scooby Pacemaker in trap two has been coming from behind in his heats so he is one to fear if he gets within a few lengths of the leader.
Trained by Jennifer O’donnell, this son of Droopys Sydney-scooby Princess is a major player with his odds only 7/2.
Epic Chick is the fastest on paper as she clocked 28.00 in the earlier rounds for John Kennedy.
Then we have Phoenix Tyson for trainer Ian Reilly. He won a heat in 28.53 but needs luck if he’s going to claim the €80,000.
It’s Knockeen Dazzler for me.
In the big smoke I fancy the 4/5 favourite Ballymac Danica to win the Puppy Oaks for trainer Liam Dowling.
She has been pawperfect in her previous two heats clocking 28.28 and 28.34.
Kerogue Lady in trap ve has super early pace with the trap draw to suit her as she wasn’t a fan of trap one last week despite winning.
The other worry is Droopys Wriggle in trap one for Robert Gleeson. If she traps like she can then there will be a battle into the
rst bend but I’m sticking with Ballymac Danica. The standard is very high in the Shelbourne Open 600 with the Michael J O’donovan trained Ryhope Beach chalked up as the 11/8 favourite in the outright with Boylesports.
He’s in perfect form ahead of this competition with TIME Irish Cesarewitch winner Singalong Dolly a huge danger in trap three for trainer Pat Buckley.