Alder All The Way In The Cross

The feature of the year in Harold’s Cross takes place this Friday night, The Dublin Coach Juvenile Derby.

We lost one of the talking dogs in the competition last week but that does not take the shine off the final. There were two very exciting semi-finals last week. In the opening semi-final all eyes were on the odds on jolly in trap one, Lenson Panda.

Panda didn’t take his usual flying start and looked in a spot of bother after a few strides. Instead it was trap four Black Alder who set the pace around the opening two turns (3.05 sectional). There was a bit of bother in behind when one and two got in each other’s way which effectively ended their chances of qualifying.

Alder headed down the back about two lengths in front of Skywalker Archie with Trade Freddie in third. The positions remained the same until just up the home straight, Alder stopped the clock in a brilliant 28.67 with Trade Freddie just nailing Skywalker for second place on the line two and a half lengths behind the winner.

What happened in the second semi-final was nothing short of spectacular. The odds on favourite Jaytee Dutch looked in serious bother going around the first two turns. Hee Haws Sheriff in one showed his tremendous burst of early pace to show them the way down the far side (3.15 sectional).

Anopheles did the chasing in second with Dutch a fair way back in fifth. Dutch’s supporters would have taken a qualifying position from here, but the dog seemed to change gear and roared into the third corner showing an incredible burst of pace. While The Sheriff and Anopheles were having a great battle up front, Dutch was eating up the ground in behind. He switched inside up the home straight and got up to win by a neck in 28.64.

This was an amazing run from where he was off the second corner. I know The Sheriff might not be the strongest stayer in the world but he still would take a fair bit of catching.

Looking ahead to the final I’m going to side with Black Alder, this son of Zero Ten has it both ways; he starts and stays.

The draw has worked out very well for him in two and he can use it to his advantage. If he can clear Sheriff to the corner that will be half the battle, these are the two fastest to the corner.

Jaytee Dutch will be his biggest danger if getting loose on the outside, there is no doubt he’s the fastest in the final he will just need a run. If he turns within five lengths of the leader down the back he wins. Im still going to side with Alder however as he represents the value.

Mossy’s Secreto Ups The Ante
Secreto set the standard in the second round of the St Leger at Limerick last weekend, slowly into stride he moved in for the rails and got a nice run around the inside around bends one and two.

Halfway down the back straight he made his move and joined the leaders by the third corner, from here he switched on the turbo and opened up a nice gap to go on and win by four lengths in a best of the year, 29.32. This was a breath taking performance, he always promised a run of this calibre.

Next best on the clock was Offshore Bound who kept up his unbeaten record around Limerick in heat four when he took charge off the second bend and kept up a strong gallop to stop the clock in 29.60. This fellow is showing a real liking for the circuit. Peregrine Falcon was the next best on the stopwatch in 29.62, owner/trainer Patrick O’Brien is still living the dream and the way his dog is performing, he will be living it for another while!

Last week we mentioned Tyrur Tommy as our ante-post value selection. He got himself back to the winner’s enclosure in heat five. Again, he missed the kick but had a bit of luck around the bend, getting his head in front at the sprint box. It was good night Irene from here, judging by the way he stayed the week before. Other winners on the night were Minor Bound, Scooby The Star, Razldazl Rubin and Black Tom. The quarter finals take place this Saturday night and all twenty four runners are inside seeds! My two bets In the quarters finals are Savethedon and Skywalker Rory.

Fair Warrior Sprint
In Mullingar we are down to the final of the prestigious Fair Warrior Sprint. The two ante-post favourites from the start of the competition have made the decider which makes it a great final.

Slade Paddy and Catherines Drico are the two big guns. They met in the semi-finals and Drico came out on top. The final is a hard one to call, anything can happen in these sprints so the break is vitally important. Drico already has the Peggy Kelly sprint on his CV as well as the sprint on Derby Final night, he can also add the Fair Warrior to his achievements if he can find a level break in Sunday’s decider!

Coursing
Looking away from the track and onto the coursing field we are going to take a look at the cups in Crohane and Edenderry. The Cup in Edenderry looks extremely competitive with a number of runners capable of giving it a good rattle. Last year’s Champion Stakes winner Blueview Charlie, returns to defend his title.

Charlie started his long season here last year with an impressive victory and have no doubt Maxie Collins will have this third season campaigner finely tuned to do the double. He takes on De Great White in his opening round, De Great White (formally known as Tynwald Wayne) was a flyer for a few rounds last year so Charlie will have to be on his toes early.

The top of the draw looks the tougher on paper here with the likes of Crafty Who, Chubbys Charmer, Ivy Hill Time (formally Positive Timing) and Central Investor all in action. Central Investor has had a stop start career but has form on the field winning the Trial Stake here in 2013.

The bottom half looks a small bit easier, Game Mikey won the Derby Trial Stake here last season and is making his seasonal reappearance. Mikey got to the last eight in the Derby last year and done some tasty clocks along the way. He gets the nod in this cup due to the fact he could have the easier passage to the final. It would be a mouth-watering final if Blueview can get past some sticky opposition!

The Slievenamon Cup is the headline act in Crohane and Blue Beruki can be the star of the show. Beruki blew away a few cobwebs last weekend at Regional. He wasn’t beaten that far by eventual winner Kyle Fionn in the second round in a fast clock so should be spot on for this task.

The field should suit this fellow down to the ground. The first buckle in the cup could be a thriller between Blazing Music and Marshals Mercury, Blazing has a run under his belt already this year reaching the semi-final in Kilflynn while Marshals is having his first run back. Blazing just gets the vote. Whoever wins between Why Tanyard Bebo and Intacta Banba can progress to the final. Blue Berkie is the one they all have to beat and can go all the way.

Best Bet – Game Mikey
Value – Coffee In Spirit (All Age Bitch Crohane)

All ante-post betting for the aforementioned stakes are all available on www.BoyleSports.com as well as a number of other competitions taking place on each side of the Irish Sea. Updated betting for the Derby and Oaks is available each week throughout the 2015/16 coursing season. #BetOnBoyle for all things greyhounds!