Rural For The Double

The final of the 2016 Race Of Champions takes place in Tralee this coming Friday night.

BoyleSports Race Of Champions
The night is being run in conjunction with Kerry GAA’s benefit night so a big crowd is anticipated. We had two exciting semi-finals last weekend with Farloe Joey and Leave At Dawn coming out on top in their respective heats.

The outsider of the field in the first semi-final Balymac Boxcar was fastest into stride as he led the way on the run to the corner from Skywalker Rory on his outside. These two raced in that order off the second bend as Leave At Dawn and Curious Boy had a bit of a bumping match for third position.

Skywalker looked to be in a lovely position as they straightened up down the far side but he never really picked up. Instead it was Leave At Dawn who kicked on the turbo and shot up the inside of Skywalker for second position going into the third corner. He now had his eyes on the leader as they turned for home. Switching to the outside to make his run up the home straight, this son of Foleys Folly and Toms Delight kept on very strong to take the lead approaching the 525 yard winning line. He then went on to win by one and a half lengths by the time he reached the 550 line in a time of 29.73.

Skywalker Rory faded badly up the home straight, it was our own BoyleSports Duke who took second position. To be fair he ran a nice race in second position, he looked to be gaining ground a bit on the leader after a slow start. Ballymac Boxcar held on for third position and is the local representative in the final.

Semi-Final 2
The second semi-final was won in fine style by the Owen McKenna trained Farloe Joey. Rural Hawaii broke fast on the outside in this heat and led to the corner from Farloe Joey in second and Ivy Hill Bart in third. Rural would have traded odds on in running as he turned down the back straight all of two lengths in front of Joey.

Rural began to look vulnerable into the third corner as Joey started to close the gap rapidly, keeping as close as possible to the rail saving vital ground. As they straightened for home Joey took up the running steering a middle course off the last corner he kept up a strong gallop to the line stopping the clock in the fastest time of the night, 29.57. Rural held on to second position from the fast finishing Paradise Maverik in third.

Rural is the worst possible result for us in the ante-post book and looking at the draw he looks to have the best chance! He improved hand over fist from semi-final to final last year so there is no reason why he can’t do the same on Friday night. He should lead up the Duke in five and Leave At Dawn in four, so could have a solo on the outside. Farloe Joey has a tricky draw in three as Ballymac Boxcar on his immediate left flew to the bend last week, if Joey is to win I feel he has to clear Ballymac.

Paradise Maverik has a very favourable draw in one. Looking back through his card he has done some of his best run’s from the red jacket. One is a great draw in Tralee if you are a smash breaker so don’t write him off. I’m going to stick with Rural though on the outside, he rarely runs a bad race and should get a solo.

The best result for us here will be BoyleSports Duke of course, we will be down wearing our orange rosettes! Come on the Duke!

The Oaks
We are down to the quarter finals of this year’s Oaks as twenty four bitches had to battle through very sticky conditions on Saturday night to qualify. Sidarian Pearl was the fastest winner on the night as she led all in her heat to beat kennel mate Rural Maui by four and a half lengths in 28.63 on a track that was rated 0.40 slow. Next best on the clock was Bar The Sizzler, this daughter of Head Bound hit the front early to take her heat in 29.01. Leezie Lindsay ran an eye catcher in second position here after a slow start.

Wonder bitch Ballydoyle Honey safely booked her place in the third round draw as she finished runner up to Highview Jayne in the final heat of the night. Honey looked a winner going to the bend but got her legs taken from her off the second turn. If she can get over next week she should start coming to herself again.

She is still in her pupping time. Urban Gossip was a surprise winner of the fifth heat, she found herself in front early and kept on strongly to win in 29.25 when the track was at its worst. Brinkleys Katie flew home in second. It was no harm to see Witches Belle get her head back in front in heat four, this lady is after a few rough races over the last couple of weeks so this was a nice confidence boosting win for her, 29.08 was the winning time.

Barrys Tea 750
Tradition cemented her position at the head of the market in the Barrys Tea 750 with a brilliant 41.32 opening round success on Saturday night. Last year’s stayer of the year had put in some fine performances over 600 yards in Shelbourne recently which left her spot on for this competition.

Ballymac Bonnie looks to be her main rival for outright honours, connections were very happy with her run last week and feel she will be improving throughout the stake.

She just failed to peg back long-time leader Marys Note in a very fast 41.51. Bling Bling Mall was a surprise winner of the first heat, this daughter of Mall Brandy kept on well to collar Boherash Ozzie in 41.92.

The final heat of the night went to Beaming Coyote who was having her first look at the cork circuit, she took up the running off the fifth bend to score by two lengths in 41.70. The two semi-finals will take place on Saturday night. The first semi looks to be a right clash on paper between the two queens of the staying circuit Tradition and Ballymac Bonnie. The second looks to be at the mercy of Joyful Dribbler.

Wimbledon
Over in Wimbledon this is the big week with the three runs, as we go to print Jaytee Jet is outright favourite after his sparkling 28.01 third round win.

He is short price to win his heat so fingers crossed he safely makes it through to Saturday nights semi-finals. After Clares Rockets sensational run through the Produce Stakes at Clonmel we were left with no option but to cut him to 8/1 jolly for the BoyleSports Irish Derby, yes it is very skinny but his style of running in Clonmel suggests that 550 in Shelbourne Park will be right up his ally.

#BetOnBoyle for all things Greyhounds.