Graham Holland trained runners have ruled in the opening two rounds of the Healthcare & Transport Puppy Oaks and this has domination can continue in the semi-finals over 525 yards at Shelbourne Park tonight.
The Tipperary based handler qualified all six of his runners last week and was successful in three of the four quarter finals.
His Ballinakill Clare is fancied to stay unbeaten in the stake by landing the second semi-final.
The Kinloch Brae bitch has set the standard in the first two rounds with 28.06sec and 28.11sec victories and can soon be in control.
The chief danger appears to be Gerry Kiely’s Airmount Dvinsky, the Newbridge Open Bitch Unraced Stake runner-up, who is well drawn on the fence and caught the eye last week when keeping 28.26sec winner Sidarian Pearl in her sights last week.
Clare’s kennelmate Slippery Louise is the sole wide seed in the race and must be a factor after finishing well to beat Rockburst Riva last week in 28.60sec.
Holland’s Sidarian Pearl is strongly fancied to land the first semi-final.
The Vans Escalade bitch has electric early pace and has broken the 2 second barrier twice in the event during her 28.17sec and 28.26sec victories.
Those wins were from outside draws and she should be even more effective from a more suitable middle draw.
Kennelmates Rockburst Riva and Slippery Thelma look the main threats.
The lightly raced Slippery Thelma, who has a perfect outside draw, clocked 28.55sec in the opening round and can improve.
Rockburst Riva, a 28.41sec winner from the opening round, must enter calculations.
Gerry Kiely’s Airmount Tess, who landed her opening round heat in 28.35sec, is another who has serious claims
1 Harlem Princess
2 Airmount Tess
3 Sidarian Pearl
4 Mashmad Eyebrows
5 Rockburst Riva
6 Slippery Thelma
1 Airmount Dvinsky
2 Holycross Leah
3 Brinkleys Katie
4 Ballinakill Clare
5 Blackhall Ruby
6 Slippery Louise
