Crushers The One To Fear In Irish Cup

So this is it, the final meeting of the 2014/15 coursing season.

All roads lead to Greenmount Park, Patrickswell, Co Limerick on Friday morning for the 100th running of the Irish Cup. This looks one of the most open Irish Cup’s in recent years and we are currently betting 7/1 the field.

Both Needham Work and Kyle Bruce top the market at this price.

In my opinion you need to look for one of the fresher dogs going into this competition. It could be a tough three days on the field as the weather for the week isn’t the best so the going might be on the soft side.

There is a lot of value to be got throughout the draw as there is a couple of dogs at juicy prices. Fingal Master(14/1) represents a nice bit of value. He was beaten by Skellig Sunlight(20/1) in the second round of the Champion Stakes at the National Meeting and that was by no means a bad run as Sunlight on his day would put it up to any dog in the early rounds. Fingal Master didn’t get too much hardship all season and only had two rounds in Clonmel and each round was a week apart so she should be ready for action this coming weekend. He is in the top quarter of the draw where he is among a few of the top pups from this season most noticeably Kyle Bruce(7/1), Bruce attracted a lot of support on the lead up to the National Meeting and preformed very well getting to the quarter final where he lost out in a great buckle to Portane All In.

Kyle got a few unwanted turns the first day in Clonmel and I just would be slightly worried whether or not that could come against him this weekend, connections obviously think he’s ready for the battle field again or else he wouldn’t be running. If Bruce is fit and well he will take a lot of beating in this opening quarter. I think this field could suit his style of running.

The second quarter looks the strongest on paper, Needham Work(7/1) was put in as favourite following the shock withdrawal of his kennel mate Needham Danger before the draw. Work has been a surprise package so far this season. He didn’t appear until a second season dog in Cashel at the start of the coursing year where he put in a fine effort in the opening round before being withdrawn, his next two outings were winning ones in Ballyduff and Newcastlewest. This dog hasn’t put a foot wrong all year and ticks a lot of boxes towards winning this.

Works’ Kennel companion Needham Simple(16/) is drawn in the very next course and has some very good form over course and distance from last year and it will be no surprise if these two meet in the second round. Simple has been a frustrating dog to follow this year but he does have serious gears.

Champion Stakes winner Blueview Charlie(10/1) makes a quick return to action and has been a model of consistency all year he could meet Derby Quarter finalist Carrowkeal Gavin(16/1) in a mouth-watering buckle on Saturday morning. Tullamoy Master(12/1) is a dog who I can see going off at much shorter odds than he is at the moment, he put in one of the performances of the opening round of the Boylesports Derby before being withdrawn. He showed terrific early pace in Clonmel and wasn’t stopping at the top of the hill either, if all is well with this fellow it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he captures the cup come Sunday evening. Michael O’Donovan sees two of his kennel stars meeting in the opening round Tynwald Ash(16/1) and Make Peace(25/1). Make Peace is the one dog every trainer wants to avoid in the opening round of any competition because I don’t think there is a faster dog than Make Peace early doors.

In the third quarter a dog that strikes me is Serene Angel(16/1), he has the same CV as 2011 winner Derby Pines. Beat in the third round of the Derby and didn’t get too much work to do in Clonmel, so he should be in peak condition this weekend. I think he is the stand out dog in this quarter all going well. His biggest rivals will come in the shape of Fingal Billy(16/1), Derby quarter finalist Game Mikey(20/1) who meets Skellig Sunlight(20/1) which could be one of the buckles of the opening round and Avenue Ranger(20/1) from the in-form kennels of Dan Brassil.

The final quarter in my opinion is between the two pups Blades Of Hope(12/1) and Crushers Oak(8/1) even though their kennel mate and former Derby winner With Grim Intent(16/1) in thrown in the mix! Blades Of Hope ran an absolute blinder in Clonmel losing out in a thrilling semi-final to Portane All In. He showed some guts all the way through Clonmel and never gave up. Just like his litter brother Kyle Bruce I think Blades will relish the course in Limerick. His kennel mate Crushers Oak comes here after a first round defeat by eventual winner Feel My Pulse in the Derby, he only lost out by the smallest of margins and it was the closest anything got to the Dan Brassil trained winner. He should be as fresh as a daisy and this could stand to him come the later stages on Sunday after noon.

After a good look through the draw my fancies would be Kyle Bruce, Needham Work, Serene Angel and Crushers Oak. I think the winner might come from the younger generation and I’m going to side with Crushers to win for Davy Sullivan and keep the Irish Cup in South Tipperary for the second year!

PATSY BYRNE SELECT ALL AGE BITCH

We will also be treated to a fantastic renewal of the Patsy Byrne all aged bitch stake. It’s a top quality thirty two bitch affair. If you follow the kennels of Michael O’Donovan I don’t think you will go too far wrong. He has three bitches running for him Boshski(7/2), Manntan Maple(5/1) and Two Steps Closer(5/1). Boshski was in my opinion very unlucky in the third round of the Oaks as she seemed to be distracted after leaving slips which proved costly in the end. The order of running of this stake will benefit her also.

She is drawn in the toughest half of the draw but I think her class will pull her through. Her main rivals will be Sequin(5/1), Dale Ashgard(7/1) and Ougham Ellen(12/1). Split Decision(8/1), Hows She Goin(6/1) and Two Steps Closer(5/1) can fight out the top half here. Boshski is the selection to keep the trophy in Limerick for her very colourful owner Mark Dilger!

We also have betting available for both puppy stakes taking place this weekend. Keep an eye out online and in all our shops nationwide for any market movers throughout the week. And remember you can always BetOnBoyle!