The first round of the traditional Harolds Cross staying event, the Corn Cuchulainn, took place at Shelbourne on Saturday where Threesixfive was marginally the quickest winner. Puppy Garfinney Blaze was only 14 spots adrift.
At Limerick, recent Kent Silver Salver winner Flashing Willow was undercut on the clock in the semi finals of the Treaty Cup by Zippy Canning with the fastest 350 of the year.
While at Thurles, Pape Di Oro set the standard in the heats of the Tipperary Cup.
Anyone looking for top class pups would have a whole smörgåsbord to choose from this week.
Cork staged the semi finals of the Linehan Unraced Stake where Jetara, a half brother to Susie Sapphire was marginally the quickest winner with a 28.17 run. The similarly aged Droopys Flytline (Laughil Blake-Droopys Curio), was just one spot slower in the other semi.
At Shelbourne on Friday there was a fabulous 28.04 from the Paul Hennessy trained puppy, Boylesports Bob. Look out too for December pup Short Grip who was just one spot off New Venture’s fastest 525 of the year at Newbridge while there was a 20.92 (FOY) at Dundalk for a talented young son of Newinn Taylor.
28.57 Waterford winner Jetstream Breeze (might be bred to stay!!) and the youngest of the lot, ’22 whelp Cul Abbey who was 20 spots off Quarteira’s FOY for the Tralee sprint.
And finally the oldest line of form, at Clonmel last Sunday, Clonbrien Treaty landed the fastest semi final of the Produce Stakes and looks certain to start as favourite for tonight’s decider.
