Drive On Up The Rails In The BoyleSports Champion Stakes

A rundown of the BoyleSports Champion Stakes Final at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.

1. Drive On Tipp 9/2
Possibly the best drawn runner in the race? Can go up fast and seems to be staying on better then ever. Has a few saucy sectionals done in SPK and Cork so it would be no surprise to see him lead. Did hold the track record in Towcester for a short period but made an early exit from the Derby.

Bidding to win this competition for the second year in a row for his trainer Graham Holland. Looks to be the value pick in the race on the draw. Can upset the more fancied runner next door.

2. Good News 9/4
Has been a household name since appearing on the sales catalogue in Shelbourne last year. Has had an up and down career so far. Took two bad falls in Limerick and Tralee but it doesn’t seem to have affected his confidence.

Reached the final of the Scottish Derby in Shawfield and the Race Of Champions in Tralee already this year and also lined up in the Dundalk International. Looked a certain winner in Tralee going to the corner but got badly impeded.

Deserves a big win to his name. I would be way more confident of his chance if he could swap boxes with one. The rails won the semi-final for him last week.

3. Jaytee Yankee 5/1
The youngest runner in the line-up. Ran the race of his career in the semi-final last week leading all in 29.56. Has always been held in the highest regard by connections so I doubt the win came as too much of a surprise.

Caught the eye two weeks ago when running on very strong in an open 525 after getting trouble early. Draw could have been kinder to him. He will have to be on his toes early as Coolavanny Mason could be heading for the fence from trap rise. Can be a star of the future.

4. Coolavanny Mason 6/1
A personal favorite of mine but I can’t have him from this draw. I would back him against most dogs when he gets drawn red. Runner-up in the Scottish Derby back in May and also reached the semi-final of the English Derby.

Will have to take an absolute flyer if he is to get across to the rails. Had no answer to Whoops Jack early last week but kept on well up the home straight.

5. Whoops Jack 9/4
Has been a revelation this past two weeks! Won an A1 550 two weeks ago and now he is favorite for the Champion Stakes. Didn’t seem to take to the surroundings over in Towcester at all but his trainer Peter Cronin seems to have built his confidence back up again.

Has got a 28.09 on his card around SPK last November in the National Puppy Stake so these flying runs are coming as no surprise. The change of seeding seems to have done the trick for Jack, he looks to be comfortable when he’s not in the middle of dogs going to the corner.

Owner Larry O’Shea and his son Jack would prove to be extremely popular winners if this fellow obliges.

6. Kilgraney Ace 12/1
Will head into the final as an outsider but he can play a huge part in the outcome. If he manages to trap on level terms he can upset the jolly on his inside. Should go up straight on the outside and try to cut the first bend.

His trainer Thomas Buggy was out of luck in the Laurels final a fortnight ago so he will be hoping for a better run here. Any double figure odds can be great each-way value.

The draw can have a major say in the outcome of most finals which is why I’m going to stick my neck out and go with Drive On Tipp for the win!

He is the best housed in my opinion and can use the rails to his advantage.

If Whoops Jack continues to break the way he has been doing lately then there is only going to be one winner. I’m just going to take the chance that he fluffs his lines this week which could leave the door open for Tipp to capitalize on the inside.

*Prices correct at time of publication