It’s another huge weekend in greyhound racing on both sides of the Irish Sea. Of course, there is huge interest in the quarter-final action in the Star Sports/ TRC English Derby at Towcester but there is also plenty to whet the appetite of greyhound racing enthusiasts on this side of the water.
By the end of the weekend, we will have crowned the Irish Oaks and Race of Champions winner, while we will be much closer to knowing the likely winner of the National Produce Stakes.
Tonight’s Callaway Rambler @ Stud Race of Champions decider is live on Racing Post Greyhound Television and it will make for essential viewing with two of the outstanding stars of the Irish track scene going head-to-head. Ballinabola Ed is without doubt one of the fastest greyhounds of the past decade and is a worthy favourite but his task is far from straightforward in the €15,000 showpiece. He takes on the 2022 Oaks champion and reigning Bitch of the Year Raha Mofo, while Magical Kuba is also a worthy adversary in the stripes.
Throw in Octane Cora, Ballymac Samuel and Radical Hero and it really could be a race to savour. Ballinabola Ed is the one to beat, however. He may have been the slowest of the three semi-final winners but probably needed the outing after a short layoff. He remains unbeaten in 2023 and finally captured the big race success his talent so richly deserved in the Shelbourne Open 600. Should he start on terms tonight, he can add another big prize to his CV. Raha Mofo and Magical Kuba are nominated as the main dangers but the “White Flash” can again remind us that he is a very special greyhound by coming home clear.
A new Sporting Press Oaks champion will be crowned on Saturday night at Shelbourne Park and the layers believe it will be Bobsleigh Dream. A kennel companion to Ballinabola Ed, she is every bit as fast and can boast two previous classic victories after capturing the 2022 Leger and this year’s Cesarewitch at Mullingar. The Pat Buckley trained starlet produced a sensational run to win both her quarter and semi-final assignments.
She faces a tricky draw in three on Saturday but will be very difficult to contain if avoiding traffic of her rivals. Crafty Shivoo is seen as the biggest threat from an ideal draw on the fence. The latter is a likely pace-setter on the inside of the track but will need to build a clear advantage to halfway if she is to contain Bobsleigh Dream at the business end.
The Irish continue to impress in the English Derby and are responsible for ten of the remaining twenty-four runners in the classic. Hopes are high that as many as six or seven will progress to next week’s semi-finals including the favourite for outright glory Swords Rex. The Graham Holland trained star has been imperious in recent outings, going unbeaten through the first three rounds. It will all be about progression this and next weekend but on current form, that shouldn’t be a problem for the Easter Cup champion.
Swords Rex has been razor-sharp in his recent starts and is again a hot favourite to come home in front in his quarter-final. He takes on Irish Derby runner-up Ballymac Finn but seems to have the measure of that rival on recent form. Fabulous Azurra and Distant Podge are seen as the best hopes of the UK in this contest but Swords Rex is expected to come home clear once again.
He can end another wonderful night for the Irish with Boylesports Gift, Clona Duke and Ballymac Marino chosen to win the three remaining heats. Now that would be something.
