Following the demise of Jaytee Dutch, Proud Graham has assumed the mantle of ante-post favourite and he can be victorious in the semi-finals of the Comerford Cakes Open 525 at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.
Graham Holland’s runner impressed last week when making all to clock 28.38sec, the fastest time of round.
Given his cracking draw on the fence, just like last week, he can quickly put this race to bed.
Kennelmate Jo Jo Fantasy looks the biggest danger. He beat Milldean Puma comfortably in 28.78sec last week after early trouble but did clock a faster 28.37sec in the opening round.
Milldean Puma, who has 28.18sec on his card from October, has to be respected along with Toolmaker Scot, a 28.31sec winner over the course and distance and Black Alder, who was a finalist in the Juvenile Derby.
Anopheles, who won that Juvenile Derby at Harolds Cross, can make it a red jacket double in the opening qualifier.
Liam Dowling’s blasted clear from traps last week to score in 28.52sec and beat tonight’s main rivals Creamery Bale and Farloe Joey fair and square. He can make all.
Creamery Bale is better when allowed to dictate the pace, while Farloe Joey beat Creamery Bale comfortably in the opening round in 28.37sec and will be massive threat if the gaps appear.
First semi:
1 Anopheles 5
2 Creamery Bale 10
3 Farloe Joey 5
4 Scary Days 33
5 Philiblue 33
6 Razldazl Rince 10
Second semi:
1 Proud Graham 9-2
2 Milldean Puma 10
3 Jo Jo Fantasy 13-2
4 Thinly Veiled 20
5 Black Alder 14
6 Toolmaker Scot 12
Ballydoyle Honey is as short as 6-4 favourite to win the Gain Dog Foods Christmas Oaks, which has it’s semi-finals over 525 yards at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.
The Sporting Press Oaks winner bids for her fifth competition of the year after victories in the Clonmel Open Unraced Stake, The Puppy Oaks, Sporting Press Oaks and the Mulvaney Memorial 600.
She fell out of the boxes last week before getting up close home to beat kennelmate Rural Maui in 28.62sec.
Although 525 yards is on the short side these days, she can break better and prove too strong for her rivals.
Kennelmate Rural Maui could set a scorching pace and trouble would help her cause, while Brendan Matthews’ Follys View, a 28.20sec course and distance winner, went quicker than Honey last week when beating Priceless Lassie in 28.59sec.
Yahoo Perlena is fancied to land the second semi-final.
She won the Night of Stars Bitches race and last week set the standard when scoring in 28.42sec.
She is crucially drawn inside main rival Skywalker Pearl, who was also impressive with a 28.46sec heat victory.
Draw:
First semi:
1 Marys Note 25
2 Follys View 6
3 Frozen Melody 66
4 Rural Maui 14
5 Urban Gossip 14
6 Ballydoyle Honey 6-4
Second semi:
1 Yahoo Perlena 6
2 Priceless Lassie 12
3 Skywalker Pearl 13-2
4 Droopys Aurora 20
5 Hovex Princess 20
6 Moanteen Beauty 25
