Treaty can defend on Grouchy St Leger Saturday
TRAPRISE
The 2024 Willwego.com Irish St Leger will conclude at Limerick Greyhound Stadium this Saturday and following a month of enthralling action in the 550-yard classic, there is a familiar name at the head of the market as Clonbrien Treaty bids to defend the title that he claimed in stunning fashion last November.
With the Irish Derby deferred for Shelbourne Park renovations, Limerick’s historic classic enjoyed an earlier start this season, but the Graham Holland trained defending champion had ample time to add the Easter Cup to his major haul this year before returning to the scene of his unprecedented 2023 double when victorious in the Kirby Memorial before adding the St Leger.
Defeated in his opening three heats this time around, Clonbrien Treaty resumed winning ways in timely manner when leading throughout his one and a half-length defeat of Barefoot On Fire, posting 29.50 in Saturday’s semi-final.
Earning quotes of 11/8 ahead of the final, an ideal trap 6 draw all but assures him a first bend lead having outlasted all viable early paced challengers and the obvious starting point for analysis, the final hinges around just how big an advantage he can build before the stronger stayers begin to close beyond halfway.
Facing a field of strong running rivals, the champion may have most to fear from a Paul Hennessy trained duo which sees Jaytee Craze priced at 5/2 from an ideal trap 1 berth, and Barefoot On Fire with a trickier in draw in trap 4.
Owen McKenna’s fellow semi-final winner Ventry Faith is the least exposed with just ten races under his belt ahead of the final and although trap 5 appears to complicate his task, a repeat of his latest 29.47 performance would go close.
Remaining finalists Coolavanny Otto and Miami King face the same final task as all inside the favourite, in that they must reach the back-straight while first in line behind the pacesetter for a late challenge. However, all appears in place for the redoubtable Clonbrien Treaty to complete an astounding Limerick major treble.
Finn guides Scooby to semis
A hot contest for the advertised grade, the Con Murphy Bookmakers A1 525 has been providing entertaining support to the classic at Limerick and overcoming a daunting assignment in Saturday’s second round heats, trainer John Byrne guided a brace of Shane & Luke O’Connell owned youngsters to this week’s semi-finals with both advancing from the same heat!
Second on opening night, it was Grouchos Finn (Droopys Sydney-Oisin’s Choice) who shaped the concluding quarterfinal when leading throughout his third career win. Breaking on terms from trap 2, he bravely forged a tight lead at the opening bend before taking full command on the run to half-way. In behind, Grouchos Scooby (Malachi-Kearney’s Lane) had made a slower start from trap 4 and was all of six lengths adrift in fifth at that point but staying strongly beyond halfway, he would ensure a brace of qualifiers for the Knockalton kennels when earning third place in the dying strides as Grouchos Finn completed a one length victory in 28.74.
The Byrne pair have gratefully been drawn in separate semi-finals this Saturday and both hold highly realistic claims of advancing to final stage.
Staying with that Saturday fixture at Limerick, the action commenced with the Welcome To Limerick Stadium ON2 525 where Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Let’s Go (Droopys Sydney-Amazing Alice) left a highly pleasing impression when igniting his racing career in a dominant debut winning performance.
Breaking on terms from trap 1, the January 2023 whelp defended his inside line on the run to the bend before holding strong against a bump with a rival on his outside while tackling the opening bend. Streaking clear to the backstraight when quickly back on an even stride, Magical Let’s Go completed a facile fifteen and a half-length victory with pace at all points of the circuit, posting 29.10.
Maiden score for Ivy
Saturday continued to introduce new winners on the local scene and turning attentions to action in the Premier, the Welcome to Thurles Greyhound Stadium A7 525 saw young Ryan Kennedy’s Ballinalick Ivy (Broadstrand Bono-Ballinalick Rua) progress from her debut outing for a first career win in most game manner.
Improving for that first race experience, the late starting December 2021 whelp found just a moderate break from trap 4 and tackled the opening bend on the outside of the field with three lengths to recover on the pacesetters. Third to halfway, superior strength from that point saw Ballinalick Ivy strike the front on the outside around the closing bends before extending to a snug three-length winning margin in 29.53.
She will rise to A5 for her next outing but can continue to make up for lost time in her belated career start on the evidence of this first victory.
Another Saturday fixture to commence with local success was at Galway where Denis McGrath’s Foxwood Kasey (Bockos Jon Jo-Oakfield Dancer) emphatically shed his maiden tag at the fourth time of asking.
Without clear passage in three previous outings, the August 2022 whelp ensured ample racing room this time when breaking on terms from trap 3 and securing command of the rails on the approach to the opening bend, forcefully struck the front while turning. Settling the race while streaking clear to the backstraight, Foxwood Kasey extended to seven and a half lengths at the line while posting 29.42 (-10).
Rising to A4 next time, that level is unlikely to contain him for very long with further progress all but assured!