Breathtaking Brandy

Priceless Brandy recorded a second track record of his short career with a terrific 29.26 run from Trap Four in the second semi-final of this year’s Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger.

After putting in an unbelievable effort just to qualify in the quarter finals, Brandy roared back to winning ways with an all the way success. His sectional 2.81 to the line is decent but it’s from the winning line to the bend where he is really showing his gears.

Going into the opening turn, Brandy held a two length lead over the chasing pack. He railed like a tiger around bends one and two and never broke stride so was able to build on his advantage. Turning down the far side he was all of six lengths in front and in cruise control as he really stretched out the field. As Brandy was approaching the penultimate turn it was the youngster of the field Native Chimes who broke free from the chasing pack to go into a clear second position.

Try as he may he couldn’t put a dent into Brandy’s lead. Eleven lengths was the winning margin in the end with Country Legend finishing two lengths behind Native Chimes in third.

Swithins Brae
It was a Trap Four double in the semi-finals of the Leger as Swithins Brae put in a QAw,ALd performance for trainer Peter Cronin. This fellow is only September 14 and is lightly raced but races like a real professional.

The sectional here was 2.74 and again he lengthened on going into the corner. Jaytee Dutch was battling for second position but again seemed to run off the corner slightly which caused bother for those behind and allowed Swithins to stretch on down the far side.

Dutch was able to hold his position in second place down the back straight and did eat into the lead. Turning for home Swithins remained three of four in front of Dutch as he raced a middle course to the line. Two lengths was the winning margin as they crossed the line, with Leave At Dawn running on hard for third.

Looking ahead to the final, Priceless Brandy is the red hot favourite and will be very hard to beat. Although I think he will win the final I don’t make him bullet proof. He is a bit vulnerable over the first 25 yards or so. He is a certainty to lead up Country Legend on his inside.

His kennel companion Jaytee Dutch is drawn in five and even though he is an inside seed I wouldn’t be worried about the draw for him as he did race with a wide seed before. He actually might get a better run at the bend from the outside. A Hennessy 1-2 is the choice for the final. Do a reversed forecast!

Swithins Brae is the worst result for us in the book after laying him early in the competition.

Bruce For The Hatrick
On the coursing front Castleisland looks to be the headline meeting over the bank holiday weekend. The Island Cup is the main event as always and has attracted some of the big names from last season. Wizard Matthew makes his second appearance of the season here.

He was beat in Round One in Glin but it was by the speedy Kingsmill Jasper who has since ran up the Cup in Crohane. The Kevin Barry trained Half The Odds is going for his second Cup of the season after kicking nine Champion Stakes points over the bar in Glin.

A win here will put him in pole position for a place in the Champion Stakes. Kerry Abu is also in search of his second win of the season after landing a killer blow in Kilflynn. He seems to have improved leaps and bounds since last year and any further improvement should see him go very close here.

Kyle Bruce has two winning lines of form over course and distance, picking up his trial stake in 2014 and the Island Cup last year. Last year’s Island Cup was as good a cup that was ran last season. Bruce was due to make his seasonal reappearance at the Regional but was withdrawn. He looks to be drawn in the easier half of the draw so can do the treble here!

Half The Odds can give him most to think about. Keep an eye on City Spirit in the All Age Bitch Stake, she is a 2014 whelp making her debut! I doubt the Townview kennels kept her in training to see if she was any good. They ran a bitch called City Beauty at this meeting two years ago with a similar profile and she turned out to be well above average!

Over West in Milltown Malbay, Bower Wonder looks the one they all have to beat if he can keep his eye on the game.

He has unbelievable gears on his day. The rising ground here should help him.

Skellig Jewel looks a good thing in the Bitch Stake. Her owner Rose O’Driscoll has a tremendous record at this meeting and Jewel can enhance this further. Smokey Zara gets the nod in the O’Meara Cup in Thurles from recent Cashel scorer Ashwood Casanova. Blades Of Music can gain the second win of his career in the John Leahy All Age at Charleville while Local Runner can make it to the final here. Daythemusicdied could live up to her big reputation in the Bitch Stake.

Loughrea
There were big upsets last weekend all over the country on the coursing front. The biggest shock of all came in Loughrea where this season’s first talking dog Blades Of Fire went down in the final of the Derby Trial Stake when long odds on.

The winner here, Sporting Romeo, has been introduced into the Derby market at 25/1. Betting on all the aforementioned stakes plus updated betting on the Derby and Oaks are available online or in any one of our shops nationwide.

Over in the UK, the English St Leger and Puppy Derby are underway at the moment. There is plenty of Irish interest in both competitions with runners from both the Hennessey and Buckley kennels. Ante-post markets and heat prices are now available on both competitions. #BetOnBoyle