We are coming up to our biggest weekend since March with runners in competitions are Shelbourne Park on Friday and Saturday night and the second round of the Produce on the Friday.
The biggest event is obviously the Champion Stakes at Shelbourne and we have four runners spread through the three qualifiers.
Ballyhimikin Jet goes in the first with a fair chance based on last week’s run. Ballymac Wild looks the obvious danger. We would want to be well clear of him coming off the last as he finishes like a train. There are quite a few in here who would probably prefer it to be 575. Glengar Bale is quite novicey but has plenty of pace, while Lemon Ozzy is a nice hound, but also might prefer it to be over 575/600.
The second semi would make a final in its own right. It is full of class. We have two in it, Ballydoyle Valor and Black Parachute and my biggest concern is that they will get in each other’s way. Valor’s preparation was held up with a cut pad and I needed to get a run into him last time out. He then went to Cork and produced a cracking trial. Black Parachute has been flying since comeback. I just hope he gets a clear run at the first bend. Pestana looks a very good hound and I would expect him to lead. Will he stay the 550? I am not convinced, particularly in this company. If one of ours isn’t chasing him up the backstraight, any of the other three are more than capable of a big run.
There are no bad dogs in a Champion Stakes qualifier but I do think that on all known form, Lenson Bocko and Ballymac Anton have both shown themselves among the very best in training. You can never be over confident, but I am completely happy with Bocko’s preparation and I expect him to come on from his two trials.
The meeting also features the first round of the Corn Cuchulainn. We have four runners on the night including Lenson Blinder and Slippery Jade in the opener.
Blinder will be running in Nicki’s name. Blinder is now four years old and with Len Ponder having a lot going on in his personal life at the moment, the dog was transferred into Nicky’s name. I would say that despite his age, Blinder has never been in such good condition, as he showed with a 28.00 trial at Cork. He has always been prone to steering problems if he gets caught in traffic, but if he can slip clear over 750, there is a big run in him. As far as we are concerned, we are happy to take over responsibility for Blinder, but should he win the competition, he is still Len’s. Slippery Jade has been a decent bitch but has been in the wars a bit and produces her best when she gets a clear run.
Romeo Rumble goes in the second heat. He has come out of lockdown in good condition and must have a decent chance. I rate Manuka Man, but am not convinced that he gets this trip, so I would have Sporting Pat as the danger.
We have Ballydoyle Bee in the third heat. She has an exceptional record over 750 and has been running in some high class A1s over the shorter trip so I wouldn’t put anyone off backing her. It should be a case of ‘catch me if you can’. The danger looks to be the Kilkenny record holder Sparta Rocky, who is a high class dog in his own right.
We don’t have anything in the fourth heat which features Redzer Ardfert who must be favourite to win the event.
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned an unraced pup called Indesatchel, who clocked 28.35 in his qualifying trials earlier in the year. Well he makes his debut in a an unraced stake on Friday night at Shelbourne.
He has since done 28.37 in a trial at Shelbourne and he looks a special prospect. Among our seven runners is also Feudal Spirit who I was hoping would go some way in the Produce Stake for Larry O’Rourke. He made a mess of it, but I do think he has ability.
A few months ago, I also mentioned a litter Sonic/Slippery Thelma litter who looked particularly good in schooling. One of them, Riverside Sonic is also making his debut. He looks a nice pup but I took him to Cork for an unofficial and he got completely lost. Hopefully he has learned from the experience.
Also on Friday, we have seven runners in the second round of the Produce Stakes at Clonmel.
Three of the seven go in the first heat including fastest heat winner, Rathcoole Fox, plus Doolin Duke who was beaten a length by Newinn Taylor, and Newinn Sheedy, who probably surprised me the most in his heat after coming back from a sprained hock. There isn’t much between them. Fox has good all round ability and stays, though in a race for six inside runners, Duke looks the one most likely to get a clear run.
Newinn Session continues to improve in every run and is unbeaten in five. Newinn Taylor is unbeaten in nine and goes in the third heat. He has tremendous early, tremendous middle but barely gets the Clonmel 525. I am hoping that every run brings on his fitness and helps him stay on that bit better.
Rosden Speedy and Sevenheads Rock are drawn together in the last heat among five inside runners. I would gladly settle for qualification for both.
