The Bar One Racing Irish Laurels and Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby may be very different classics but both are littered with top class trackers with similar qualities. Early speed is the most potent weapon of those that head the market in both classics.
Ballinakil Alf is the hot favourite for Juvenile Derby glory and he is amongst the fastest greyhounds on the planet to the opening turn and down the back straight. Had his connections chosen a different route, he may well have been favourite for Laurels glory.
Incidentally, his litter brother Jacktavern Bolt is amongst those at the top of the market but the general consensus is that the winner will come from Carrick Aldo or Swords Rex with the layers making them the big two in the betting.
Swords Rex has been a star through his career, capturing two classics, the 2022 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial and this year’s Easter Cup before reaching the English Derby final where he was a hot favourite only to miss the start.
Carrick Aldo is also a classic champion after an exceptional display in the final of the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup. He stepped back up to 525yds for the opening round of the Laurels and was brilliant as he recovered from a moderate start to race around his rivals on the bend to emerge a facile winner.
Such was the impressive nature of that display that his odds for outright glory were slashed to a point where we are talking about him as one of the favourites for outright success. He faces a tricky second round assignment with follow opening round scorer Halo to take on, while Faypoint Jet is also worthy of a mention. One suspects, with a fast start, Carrick Aldo could further cement his position at the head of the market with a brilliant front-running display and it would be no surprise to see him break the 28 second barrier.
Swords Rex suffered a shock reversal in the opening round but I fully expect him to return to winning ways. Others that appeal in their respective outings include the aforementioned Jacktavern Bolt and Droopys Beglin. There is plenty of water to go under the bridge in the coming weeks ahead of the October 14th decider but, even at this early stage, it looks like a hugely exciting classic.
Meanwhile, the Juvenile Derby at Shelbourne Park features some really exceptional young trackers including Ballinakil Alf, who we referred to earlier. De Lahdedah was a shock elimination last weekend but it remains a truly vintage renewal.
Ballinakil Alf will be a warm favourite to add to his already hugely impressive tally. Blessed with remarkable early dash, the Graham Holland trained star is the one to beat in the opening semi-final but will be tested, especially if Highview Splash gets the better of Deadly Jet into the turn.
The second heat is also a high-class affair with Short Grip, Grouchos Duke and Stonepark Syd all hugely talented but the vote goes to Droopys Flytline, who like so many of his rivals, has a very bright future.
Earlier on the Shelbourne card, the final of the Mustang Jet @ Sud Open Unraced Bitch 525 features a number of very talented performers. The one that really caught the eye in the semis was Fashion Model and she can follow up on Saturday.
Down at Limerick, the final of the Roma Casino Irish Cambridgeshire is the feature and a top qualify line-up will do battle. Hukum was mighty impressive in the semis but needs to be at his very best again to account for the Corn Cuchulainn champion Kinturk Road and recent Derby finalist and Limerick 750yd track record holder Threesixfive.
On the strength of her opening round, track record breaking display, Threesixfive is selected to atone for last weekend’s defeat by claiming the final for Scott Phelan.
Across the water there is strong Irish representation in the finals of both the St Leger and the Birmingham Cup with Graham Holland fielding a finalist in each. Irish Derby runner-up Bockos Crystal has a strong chance from an inside draw in the Birmingham Cup, while Jacktavern Bella needs to be at her very sharpest in the final of the St Leger but is undoubtedly a big player.
Were Graham Holland to win either or both, it would greatly enhance his chances of making the top six in the UK trainer’s championship which would be some doing when you consider his Riverside Kennels operation is based in Golden, co Tipperary.
