The Bresbet Easter Cup will be the first major target for many of the very fastest greyhound on the planet. The oldest competition on the Irish calendar gets underway at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night and this year’s renewal looks exceptional.
De Lahdedah is favourite to land his first classic and the return to the 550yd trip will certainly suit but he will be tested in the coming weeks with some sensationally fast rivals standing in his way. De Lahdedah faces a very tricky draw in his opening round assignment with Derby third Bens Teddy, Champion Stakes winner Trinity Junior, Derby finalist and Winter Racing Festival winner Music Glideaway and the hugely fast Nomandic Nova to contend with. It's a real test but De Lahdedah should be up to the task if he is to go onto claim outright glory.
Clonbrien Treaty is amongst the nominees for 2023 Greyhound of the Year after capturing the Leger and Kirby Memorial, both at Limerick, in the past twelve months. He hasn’t always looked at home around Shelbourne but should be too good for his rivals in the opening heat.
The clash of Superfast Gorden and Carrick Aldo should set the pulses racing. Both have electric early speed and are stepping up to the Derby trip. One suspects Carrick Aldo might get first run, although there are more doubts over his stamina than his rival. Throw in English Derby winner Gaytime Nemo and 2022 runner-up Mr Chelm and it’s quite a contest.
Recent impressive Gold Cup winner Boylesports Coco is another stepping up to 550yds for the first time. The Dolores Ruth trained starlet will undoubtedly appreciate the extra yards into the turn and can assert early to see off a familiar foe in the form of Ballymac Finn.
Clona Duke is favoured in Heat 2, although he needs to be at his sharpest in the opening yards with Highview Splash, Ballymac Marino, Deadly Style and Boylesports Bob amongst his challengers.
Pennys Lynx just gets the nod in a wide-open Heat 3. He will benefit from his latest run and has a kind draw in two.
Brownstown Tango NTSC Open Unraced Bitch 525
Tonight’s action at Newbridge includes the semi-finals of the Brownstown Tango NTSC Open Unraced Bitch 525. Crafty Bondi, Coolavanny Poppy and Fairy Footsteps have been so impressive in the previous rounds with all three defending an unbeaten record.
Crafty Bondi and Fairy Footsteps clash in the opening heat where they are joined by the exciting Rossa Ella. All three have the potential to achieve great things in the future but picking a winner this evening is no easy task. Fairy Footsteps is very sharp in the early yards, while Crafty Bondi and Rossa Ella are both immensely fast from the second turn.
One suspects Crafty Bondi will get a run in behind Fairy Footsteps and that could make the difference. Even at this early stage in her career, it’s safe to suggest there aren’t many faster in training and Crafty Bondi is chosen to further confirm her standing as perhaps the most exciting young bitch in training.
One that could soon rival her for that title is Coolavanny Poppy, who stands out as the one to beat in the second heat. A wonderful winner in 28.30 last weekend, she can follow up by making every inch.
TIME Irish Cesarewitch
There are also a couple of flying females in action at Mullingar on Sunday afternoon as the TIME Irish Cesarewitch comes to a conclusion. Defending champion Bobsleigh Dream will have plenty of support despite a tricky draw in four but her kennel companion Singalong Dolly is selected to get the best of the argument.
In her relatively short career to date, Singalong Dolly has already captured the Puppy Oaks at Shelbourne Park and the recent Champion Bitch Stake at Thurles. If repeating her semi-final effort, the exciting daughter of Droopys Sydney can get first run on her rivals to make every inch, capturing the impressive €10,000 prize in the process. The action from Mullingar can be viewed live on GTV, Sky channel 427, from soon after 2.45pm.
