In recent weeks we have spoken at length about the changes to the Irish calendar in 2024 but certain things remain the same, including the early season programme with huge emphasis on the newest crop of young greyhounds.
For quite a few years, the opening third of the year has featured a number of valuable unraced competitions. A chance for young greyhounds with no racing experience to dip their toe in the water with greyhounds of their own kind.
And it has proven a hugely success path to take. So many classic winners over the past ten years have come from these many unraced competitions including a few Derby champions. The early signs would suggest 2024 will be no different.
It has been noteworthy how few young greyhounds have made a splash in the past three months or so. Instead, many choose to wait for the early season competitions with their greyhounds. That is more than evident when you glance through the entry for the Rural Kennels Open Unraced which gets underway at Clonmel this evening.
There are eleven opening round heats in all and it seems each feature at least one or two potential stars. Most of Ireland’s biggest kennels are represented while so many of the 66-strong entry boast a wonderful pedigree. On top of all that, there are a number of youngsters that have gone very fast in qualifying.
Have no doubt, the Rural Kennels Open Unraced will produce a number of brilliant greyhounds that could challenge for classic honours through the remainder of 2024 and 2025.
Of course, it is only one of the numerous unraced competitions. The Juvenile Classic will commence at Tralee next month and some of the youngsters trialling around the Kerry track ahead of the competition look potentially world class.
Then there is the Future Champion Open Unraced at Enniscorthy, the Open Bitch Unraced at Newbridge and the Champion Open Unraced at Kilkenny. If each of those are as strong as tonight’s competition and the Juvenile Classic, it could be a very special year. Certainly, it would be advisable for those who love greyhound sport to have a notebook in hand as so many stars will emerge in the coming months.
There is plenty of other noteworthy action this evening aside from the Clonmel action. This includes the second round of the valuable Dublin Cup at Shelbourne Park this evening and the second round of the Nolan CRVT Test Centre Kerry Oaks at Tralee.
It was no surprise to see Liam Dowling’s “Ballymac” operation have a big hand in the opening round of the Kerry Oaks, sending out three of the five heat winners and he can expect to follow up with a double this evening.
Ballymac Wendy stands out in the opening heat, while Ballymac Whispa and Ballymac Opera both have a big role to play in the final heat. Confident Keely and Charlie And Ben get the nod in the two remaining heats.
Meanwhile in Dublin, there are eight second round heats of the Dublin Cup. The undoubted star of the opening round was Newline Fortune. He displayed superb early speed in a facile success, posting 28.64, and a repeat of that form would see him come home clear.
Others expected to play a big part in their respective heats include La Barbaro, Miami Prince and Ballybough Carol.
