Another week means the start of another classic. As it happens, the willwego.com Irish St Leger at Limerick is the final classic of what has been a wonderful year. It is a very different classic to the Laurels, which came to a tremendous conclusion a fortnight ago.
The Laurels was all about the real speedsters, the greyhounds that sometimes struggle to see out 550yds, while the Leger is better suited to the all-rounders, the dogs that have early speed and the stamina to get home.
A glance at the betting market highlights the quality on show with the top seven in the betting proven at the very highest level. The favourite, Swords Rex, is a dual classic winner, one of which was the 2022 Kirby Memorial at Limerick.
Just behind him in the market are the hugely powerful duo of Sober Glory and Bens Teddy. The latter was third in the Derby, while Sober Glory dipped under the Kilkenny 525yd track record in a recent trial suggesting his well-being.
Defending champion Bobsleigh Dream is prominent in the market, as is this year’s Kirby Memorial champion Clonbrien Treaty. Champion Stakes winner and Derby semi-finalist Trinity Junior was a finalist in the Leger last year and will have his supporters also.
Bockos Crystal and Me Chelm come next. Bockos Crystal is amongst Ireland’s fastest females and ran up this year’s Irish Derby, while Mr Chelm has long been a star and is best remembered for finishing second in last year’s English Derby.
It’s certainly an illustrious list of names and if you go further down the betting lists you will come across the likes of 2022 Derby runner-up Ballymac Finn, 2022 Juvenile Classic winner Ballymac Marino and so many more classic finalists over the past year.
In short, it’s absolutely packed with quality and should provide some stunning action over the coming four weeks.
Elsewhere, the RPGTV Puppy Oaks continues at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night, as does the Paddy Merriman Memorial A1 525. There’s no room for error in the semi-finals of the Puppy Oaks with so many of the remaining twelve runners capable of going very fast.
Juvenile Derby runner-up Short Grip set the standard in the opening round, posting 28.25 from the front and she is chosen to follow up in the first semi. She has an ideal draw in four with the slow-starting Fashion Model on her immediate inside. Singalong Dolly can emerge as the main threat.
Epic Chick has a very bright future and gets the nod in the second heat. She picked up Lincoln Legacy to win last week and it could be a similar scenario on this occasion.
The semis of the Paddy Merriman Memorial can go the way of Point Of Rescue and fastest opening round scorer Ballymac Vida. The latter clocked a sizzling 28.22 last week and can come home in front of Whyaye Bonnylad in the second heat.
The action doesn’t stop there. On Sunday, Mullingar will welcome the sprinters once again for the semis of the RPGTV Fair Warrior open 400. The opening heat sees Zippy Canning and So Its Rapid go head to head.
Zippy Canning was actually picked up in the second round but still clocked 21.25, some four spots faster than So Its Rapid posted in victory. It could b quite a battle but preference is for Zippy Canning.
Pavilion Fire flew home to win each of his last two starts and he can replicate those displays in the second heat. Hawkfield Ava and Boylesports Coco can emerge as the main dangers.
SEE ALSO: Liam Scales And The 'Roy Keane Like' Trait Behind His Meteoric Rise
