Night Of Shocks At Comerford Cakes Open

The Comerford Cakes Open 525 got underway last Saturday night in Shelbourne with shocks in almost every heat.

Night Of Shocks
Trap six provided six of the eight heat winners, with only one heat winner coming from the inside which is very strange, especially in Shelbourne.

The only winning favourite came in heat seven when Razldazl Rince took the race by the scruff of the neck around the opening two, steering a wide course he kicked clear down the far side opening up a big advantage. Rince ran out a four and a half length winner over Motorbar Welcome in a slick 28.46.

One For The Future
The competition got off to a fantastic start when Scary Days gave a great front running display making every post a winning one in 28.49, this fellow is one of the younger hounds in the stake. Days seems to be improving with every run and his electric early pace is his main attribute, his wide running style really suits HQ and is one for the future.

Unlucky Dutch
The fastest time of the night came in a very exciting heat two. Swords Fern led up from trap one but the lead changed around the second turn as Creamery Bale took up the running from Drumcrow Kaiser. The pair raced almost in sync into the third turn but at this stage Jaytee Dutch was arriving on the scene. Dutch went for a gap but the door was closed and was forced to check. Bale was left in front up the home straight and looked a winner but Drumcrow Kaiser kept digging and digging and got his head in front just at the right time.

Credit must be given to Dungannon trainer Ruddy as he is a home bred son of their own Drumcrow Obama.

In saying that, you would have to call Jaytee Dutch the unlucky dog of the race!

Close Finish
There was another exciting finish to heat three where three quarters of a length separated the first three home. Philiblue led home a good field which included Puppy Derby hero Anopheles. Laurens Champ was the one to set the pace here but was swallowed up between the last two bends, Philiblue had to pull out the stops to get up on the outside.

Milldean Puma put in an amazing performance in heat four coming from well off the pace. Black Alder led into the third corner here but you could see his stride shortening, Puma stayed well wide and avoided any trouble and pounced very late to get the result from Airport Turbo in 28.72.

Graham Holland got his name on the winner’s sheet in heat five as Jo Jo Fantasy got the better of Borna Sounds. Jo Jo really turned on the style from the sprint box. As Borna led into the third turn it looked like he would have a comfortable success, but Jo Jo was eating into his lead all the way. Up the home straight Borna took the shortest route home but try as he may he couldn’t hold off the finish of Jo Jo Fantasy.

These two runners actually performed very well in the BoyleSports Derby, Jo Jo Fantasy reached the quarter final, all this experience is standing to this son of Premier Fantasy.

Latina Droops
The biggest shock of the night was the ante-post favourite Droopys Latina failing to qualify from heat eight. Gelong led on the outside and ran out a comfortable winner in 28.65. Latina did everything wrong at the start but made his usual run into the third bend and was forced to check. He is proving very expensive to follow of late, there is no doubting his pace but his main problem is his trapping.

The two stand out runners for me in last week’s heats are Jaytee Dutch and Jo Jo Fantasy. I think these two will be in the thick of things come the business end of the competition.

Needham Ready To Work
One of my favourite meetings of the year takes place this weekend in Johnstown and Urlingford.

The Paddy Doyle Cup is the main event as always. Last year’s Irish Cup winner Needham Work is the stand out runner in the field this year.

Work blew away any cobwebs he had two weeks ago in Ballyduff and should be spot on for this week’s challenge.

The field and conditions should suit this Brendan Matthews trained runner, his biggest danger down the bottom end of the draw can come from Whytanyard Bebo who recently ran up in Charleville.

Clock watchers will be keeping an eye on how Mallow trial stake winner Clon Carlos gets on. Ivy Hill Time looks the one at the top of the draw, he ran with a lot of credit recently in Waterford running up to Fingal Billy. He is an extremely fast runner on his day so it won’t be any surprise to see him going a long way.

After all is said and done the cream always rises to the top so Needham Work should land the spoils barring accidents.

Baby Seeks Hat-Trick
The bitch stake looks very good as usual here. Ballyverry Baby is on the lookout for her third win of the season and she sits on eight points already so two more will cement her place in the Champion Bitch Stake in Clonmel. Manntan Maple looks the pick at the bottom. She did disappoint somewhat in Listowel and Enniscorthy so will be looking to bounce back.

If you are looking for a bit of value here I’d be having a look at Fire And Silver.

She is locally owned by John Norton and will relish the pull up Woodsgift.

I’m looking forward to attending myself this weekend, the craic in the Valley Inn will be top class with people attending from all corners of the country! Speaking to hard working club member Thomas Burke last week they are expecting a top class meeting, with all the stock in great order.

Looking elsewhere, Tobar Na Molt is the bet of the weekend in Lixnaw. She ran away with the Oaks Trail stake here last season and looks the pick in the All Age this year. Tobar was flawless in her win in Listowel and can bag herself another four points here.

Market Shake-Up
There was a bit of a shake-up in the Oaks betting last weekend after the performance of Graceandglamour in the All Age Bitch Stake in Rathkeale. She has been cut into 12/1 second favourite behind Laurdella Dani. Blueview Rio remains our 10/1 jolly in the BoyleSports Derby.

You can find markets on all the above competitions on www.Boylesports.com, we will have betting on every coursing meeting throughout the year available online and in all our shops throughout the country. There is also betting available on a number of competitions taking place at the moment in the UK.

#BetOnBoyle for all things greyhounds!