As with any sports fan, those that follow and appreciate greyhound racing want to see the best taking on the best. This weekend they will certainly get their chance with the final of the aptly named Boylesports Champion Stakes taking centre stage at Shelbourne Park.
Lenson Bocko is currently the greatest draw in Irish greyhound racing and will be favourite to land the €20,000 prize, although only his best will suffice in a race of the highest quality. In truth this is perhaps the greatest test of his relatively short career to date.
That’s quite a statement when you consider he has already won both a Derby and a Night of Stars 550 but rarely has he taken on so many brilliant trackers in the one race. Of those in opposition, the sponsors have installed Ballymac Cooper his nearest market rival, while Ballyhimikin Jet, who won his last two starts in impressive fashion, is the third choice in the betting.
Ballymac Cooper is clearly a massive danger. Blessed with a massive engine, he also boasts a favourable draw in the stripes of six. Should Lenson Bocko step inwards, as he so often does, from trap five, Ballymac Cooper could find himself with plenty of room to race.
Others certainly worthy of a mention include Pestana and Ballymac Anton. The former has stunning early speed and is expected to race prominently. In fact, he looks the most likely pace-setter. Whether his presence will upset Lenson Bocko has to be seen but have no doubt, he can have a big say in the outcome.
Ballymac Anton is the oldest of the six finalists but is still performing like a sprightly youngster. He chased home Lenson Bocko in the semi finals and certainly can’t be dismissed. The field is completed by Ballymac Wild and, while he will be available at big prices, he is clearly a top talent and a bright prospect. He has already won the Juvenile Classic around Tralee and the fact that he is the rank outsider of the field just highlights the incredible quality of the line-up.
He is unlikely to have things all his own way but Lenson Bocko is a special greyhound and one suspects he’ll find a way to enhance his career record to fourteen wins from sixteen starts. If he does emerge triumphant, he will bring his career earnings to almost €180,000. Not too shabby.
Why not look back at Lenson Bocko capturing the Boylesports Irish Derby last September?
While the Champion Stakes takes top billing, there is an incredible amount of top-class action to look ahead to. On Friday kennel companions Newinn Session and Newinn Taylor are again expected to star in the Larry O’Rourke Produce Stakes at Clonmel on Friday, the Bar One Irish Sprint Cup dominates the action at Dundalk, Tralee plays host to the Killeacle Dowling Memorial 575, while at Shelbourne Park the youngsters will again have their chance to shine in the Salute To Our Industry Open Unraced Stake.
Meanwhile on Saturday, Thurles hosts the second round of the Tipperary Cup is the feature at Thurles. But for all that the second most anticipated race of the weekend is also at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night in the semi finals of the Corn Cuchulainn Ireland’s premier six bend event. Last week saw the clash of Ireland’s best stayer Redzer Ardfert and the UK’s best Aayamza Royale and the pair served up a thriller with the latter getting the verdict in a dramatic finish.
As fate would have it, they meet again in the semi finals and could very easily provide another memorable clash. For the second week running, they will be joined by Ballymac Kingdom while the presence of Sporting Rita adds further spice to the race.
