News may be Epic in the Kingdom

Traprise

A number of local challengers will seek sweepstake success to conclude the 2024 season this weekend and trainer Pat Guilfoyle will hope for a return to winning ways in the final of a hugely prestigious 2024 Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby for his Epic News (Signet Ace-Free From Desire).

Having rattled off six straight victories to commence his career, which included A3 550-yard competition victory at Tralee, the December 2022 whelp has been held in his opening two heats of the €5000 to the winner event at the Kingdom venue over the past two weekends. However, the December 2022 whelp remains a big player ahead of the final having displayed elite pace in defeat on Friday.

Slow to reach full stride when third in the opening round, the John Kennedy owned youngster repeated a ponderous start from trap 1 in his semi-final but showed admirable pace versus exalted rivals. Recovering lost ground, Epic Ace bore down on Ballymac Finn and eventual winner Ventry Faith before checked at the third bend. Ceding victory by just over two lengths to that Owen McKenna winner in 28.34 thereafter, he was nonetheless the most eye-catching runner in the heat and can reverse the form if swifter to stride in the hot Tralee decider.

Staying at Tralee and despite losing Daleroad Duke from the opposing semi-final of that feature event, the Guilfoyle kennel did taste race victory on the Friday fixture when Thomas O’Keeffe’s bright youngster Daleroad Mya (Explosive Boy-Razldazl Mya) took her early career numbers to three wins from four in the Kerry Greyhound Owners & Breeders Association A0 550.

Announcing herself at the Kerry circuit with a sharp 28.55 debut over 525-yards, the February 2023 whelp added 570-yard victory last time out and ably handled another change in distance this time while also coping with a rise in grade.

Appearing to harbour no draw dependency at this early stage of her career, the Guilfoyle pup began smartly from trap 4 and narrowly in command on the long run to the corner, was joined and passed by an early paced rival to her outside while turning. Remaining within a length to the backstraight however, Daleroad Mya challenged once again entering the third bend before finding the door firmly shut as her pacesetting rival swept into the turn. Gathering herself from over two lengths adrift, it was from this point that she impressed most when displaying admirable battling qualities into the home stretch. Switching to the outside, Daleroad Mya readily struck the front with a powerful gallop to the line and posted 30.02 with an ultimately snug two lengths in hand.

Clearly versatile as a strong runner over any four-bend trip, she looks a likely player on the major event circuit ahead of an exciting 2025 season.

Jim leads Joxer to Galway final

Within a busy week for Borrisokane trainer Vincent McKenna, the Thanks To Our Sponsors In 2024 A7 525 Yard Stake saw the kennels double handed ahead of the twelve-runner event and a brace of litter comrades will face-off in this week’s final following a successful semi-final raid at Galway.

Fist into action while commencing the Friday fixture last weekend, Patrick Hogan’s Aulton Jim (Ballymac Cashout-Jumeirah Genie) was enjoying his third career start and a first over four-bends when housed in trap 4. Breaking on terms, the June 2023 whelp was afforded racing room when charting a true line to the opening bend and having forged a tight one-length lead to that point, repelled an early paced rival by that same margin to the top of the backstraight. Easing to three lengths before tackling the closing bends, the McKenna pup thoroughly dominated from halfway and revealing strong running abilities, struck the line with a commanding seven and a half lengths to spare in 29.43 (-10).

The faster of the semi-finals, similar clear passage will make Aulton Jim tough to contain from a repeat draw in trap 4 this Friday.

With that first semi-final in the bag, the same connections went to traps for the second heat as warm favourites to complete a double with litter comrade Aulton Joxer (Ballymac Cashout-Jumeirah Genie). However, and while also stepping up to four-bends following a brace of sprint outings, a maiden race win would elude the Mckenna charge when forced to settle for a qualifying runner-up position.

Ponderously to stride from trap 5 while immediately seeking to move towards the inside rail, Aulton Joxer would endure repeated bumping and crowding before reaching the backstraight in fourth position. Back in full stride, he would advance to second place entering the closing turns, but an early paced winner had flown and Aulton Joxer ceded victory by seven and a half lengths in 29.88 (-10).

That bare result gives him much to find on his companion come Friday, however, Joxer will be happier in trap 3 this time and should not be dismissed, while Jim will be quite happy to be housed on his right-hand side in trap 4!