It is a big weekend in Irish greyhound racing with the National Produce Stakes coming to a conclusion at Clonmel on Sunday evening, while the RPGTV Corn Cuchulainn gets underway on Saturday night at Shelbourne Park but most attention will be on the action across the water as the field will be halved for the final time in the Star Sports/ TRC English Derby.
The Irish have performed with real distinction once again and six of the remaining twelve runners are representing these shores including the hot favourite for outright glory, Swords Rex.
Foot-perfect in each of the four rounds to date, the 2022 Kirby Memorial and 2023 Easter Cup champion is on target to add a third classic to his already incredible tally. As you would imagine, things are starting to get tougher and tougher but, such has been his professionalism and level of performance in recent weeks, he is an odds-on chance to come through Saturday night’s assignment with flying colours.
Of his rivals, the market suggests that Romeo Command, the top-rated UK challenger left in the classic, is the main danger. Drawn in four, immediately inside Swords Rex, the Patrick Janssens trained star has an incredible record in the UK, winning thirteen of his fourteen starts to date.
If he is to make it fourteen wins, he needs to come through the bars as Swords Rex looks imperious at present. Joining the pair are 2022 finalist Savana Beau and Ninja Kerry, while Jacktavern Bella, a kennel mate to Swords Rex, is a second Irish representative. Sadly, Romeo Top Gun was pulled out this morning, meaning only five will go to traps.
Swords Rex can continue his incredible form to lead home Romeo Command, ensuring the he starts a hot favourite for next week’s decider, while the battle for third could go right down to the wire but it would be no surprise if Jacktavern Bella were to join her kennel mate in the decider.
No fewer than four Irish challengers line out in the opening semi-final including Gaytime Nemo and Clona Duke, both kennel companions to Swords Rex. It’s pretty remarkable that at this late stage in a classic as prestigious as the English Derby that Graham Holland is responsible for a third of the entire field but it highlights his standing as the best in the business.
Irish Derby runner-up Ballymac Finn and the Brendan Matthews-trained Burj Khalifa complete the Irish challenge in this contest. This is a really open affair with each of the six, including the two home challengers Mystical Mario and Cochise, holding claims.
Much will depend on how Clona Duke performs. The Juvenile Derby and Select Stakes winner holds the track record at Towcester but was a bit flat in the third round but slightly better in last weekend’s quarter-finals. If he does repeat his best form, he will no doubt take the world of beating.
At current prices, he is selected o come home in front of the well-housed, in-form, Burj Khalifa. Gaytime Nemo can complete a one-two-three for the Irish setting up a tremendous final seven days later.
Not happy with dominating the English Derby, Graham Holland is also responsible for the warm favourite in the National Produce Stakes final at Clonmel on Sunday. Clonbrien Treaty was a stunning winner of the Kirby Memorial and, while he hasn’t won too many races since, he returned to his best in the semis.
As a result, he is odds-on in places to come home in front. It’s difficult to go against that view. Certainly, of the six finalists, Clonbrien Treaty has shown that he is a potential superstar and if avoiding traffic, is expected to come home in front.
That’s not to say he’s taking on moving statues. Ower Mystery, Hukum, Clona Shadow, Mendelson and Burgess Supreme make up the contest. Of the five, Ower Mystery is perhaps the main threat, especially if trapping well from four, while Hukum finishes fast and could also make the frame.
We’ll speak more of the RPGTV Corn Cuchulainn next week but it is wonderful to see the stayers taking centre stage at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night in the opening round. So many promising young stayers are amongst the thirty-strong entry, but after a superb six-bend debut last week, Ballymac Johnjo is nominated as the one to beat in the stayers classic.
