GREYHOUNDS: Tips for the feature races at Mullingar & Limerick this weekend and a Best Bet for Crayford on Saturday.

Magical Mary has been installed as the odds on 4/5 favorite to win this Sunday’s classic at the Westmeath venue. Trained by leading Irish trainer Patrick Guilfoyle who is seeking his fifth win in the last twelve running’s of the event she will race from box two in the decider. Last weekends semi-finals saw Toolmaker Beach run out the fastest of the two heats when he scored comfortably from Ballyard Taylor with Bective Cherry back in third place, the winning time of 32:38 is the fastest run of the year at the track. Race favorite Pierno took a flier from trap five and raced three lengths clear to the first turn but as we have seen on occasions, he has a tendency to ease up dramatically on the opening turn and once again he went from first to worst in a couple of strides. He must be frustrating for connections as when he is on song, he is without doubt one of the fastest in training.

Onto heat two where Magical Mary went to traps as your 1/2 favorite, racing from the inside box she was well away and for me appeared to have every chance. Beaming Scarlet showed superior early pace and led into the bend from Glendalough and Magical Mary. The order remained unchanged as they raced down the far side with Magical Mary making ground as the notoriously tricky third bend approached, Mary was forced to check slightly but still turned up the home straight in a line of three with Beaming Scarlet down the middle and Glendalough on the outer. A driving finish saw Beaming Scarlet run out a determine winner over Magical Mary by a half length with Glendalough a further neck back in third in a winning time of 32:44. The final takes place this Sunday afternoon live on RPGTV. Let us look at the lineup.

1. Beaming Scarlet (7/2)

2. Magical Mary (4/5)

3. Toolmaker Beach (3/1)

4. Bective Cherry (50/1)

5. Glendalough (8/1)

6. Ballyard Taylor (12/1)

Verdict: Magical Mary is on the short side for me at 4/5, and although her excellent trainer Patrick Guilfoyle has fantastic record in the competition I would still prefer to look elsewhere. Toolmaker Beach was a superb winner last week, but his trapping can sometimes be an issue. Beaming Scarlet done nothing wrong when making all the running last week as has an ace draw on the fence. Glendalough is a dog we seen run and win in top company around Shelbourne Park on many occasions, winning a top contest on Derby final night there last year. He looks to have a decent draw and can go up much stronger than last week. With the possibility of trouble involving the inside runners Glendalough looks excellent value at around about 8/1.

Ladies Night at Limerick

The semi finals of the Epic Boy Limerick Oaks took place on Saturday night and just over four lengths separate the finalists on their semi final runs. Burgess Josie won the first of the two heats, she was very well away and led up from race favorite Annagh Lucy, Lucy was forced to check around the opening turn allowing Burgess Josie to skip clear for Pat Buckley with Burgess Pippa now taking up the chase from Clogheen Lass back in third. The order remained unchanged until the shadow of the post where Borna Aoife came home well to deny Clogheen Lass the bronze medal in 28:43.

In the second heat we were treated to a real battle between Burgess Cassie and Kilbannon Psycho. Kilbannon Psycho broke well and led around the opening bends from Burgess Cassie and Ballinabola Ruby and looked as if she would be tough to peg back. Down the far side however Burgess Cassie displayed huge pace to head Kilbannon by the third bend, as they turned to face the judge Cassie led by a length from a rallying Kilbannon Psycho and at the line Cassie just held on by a rapidly diminishing half length in 28:73. Ballinabola Ruby was a further length or so back in third. The draw for this Saturday nights final is as follows.

1. Burgess Cassie

2. Burgess Josie

3. Borna Aoife

4. Kilbannon Psycho

5. Burgess Pippa

6. Ballinabola Ruby

Verdict: A wide open contest where the break will be crucial. Burgess Josie will be of interest to many after her smart semi final win. She does have a slight tendency to move to her right on the run up and for this reason I will side with Burgess Cassie in red. She displayed big pace last week to come from behind Kilbannon Psycho, she can go up much stronger and will take my vote in what should be a thrilling Limerick Oaks final. The Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks will commence at Shelbourne Park on Saturday week, and you would expect all six finalists to appear on the entry list.

Kilkenny Track Open Unraced Stake

Last week we touched on the potential of this stake to throw up a star or two and the first round certainly did not disappoint. The track was undoubtedly running on the slow side and was officially marked as 0.30 slow. Brendan Matthews took the bold step of naming his latest dog Hes The Greatest and judging by his debut run he may not be too far off the mark! Making all from box three he ran out a very comfortable winner in a competition fastest 28:64. Fennis Trigger was next best on the clock when he made a winning debut in 28:71. Other heat winners on the night who dipped under 29:00 included Grangeview Port (28:79) Vegas Honey (28:99) Cheque For Sir (28:88) Boothebest (28:97) and Lemon Jock (28:96). Of the dogs who suffered defeat in the opening round Pablo Escobark was certainly an unlucky looser when finishing third. He is one to keep onside in round two.

Shocks Aplenty at Shelbourne Park

The opening round of the Islandbridge Sprint got underway at Shelbourne Park on Friday night and odds-on punters were on the canvas more than once. Of the four heats Two Amigos ½, Ela Supremo 4/6 and Offthepitch 2/5, all suffered defeat. All three however did qualify for this Friday’s semis. Trainer Shea Campbell had a night to remember as he sent out two heat winners. Robbies Champ took the first heat in 18:81 and in the process took his career tally to five wins from six outings. The double was complete when McCool Blue made it four wins in as many starts when making all in 18:64. He looks a promising youngster. The two remaining heats were won by Owen McKenna’s Evo Thunder in 18:65 and Gizmo Cash (18:59) took the final heat for Jamie McGee.

English Greyhound Derby Entries now closed.

The deadline for The TRC English Greyhound Derby closed on Tuesday with the draw due to take place this Thursday May 12th. In total they received 211 entries with the limit having been set at 192. Part Blake still heads the betting with most firms around 16/1 with last year’s champion Thorn Falcon available at 18/1. Recent track record breaker Sporting Chile can be backed at 33/1 The first-round draw should be available late on Thursday evening.

Ladbrokes Guys and Dolls at Crayford

Brookside Richie and Havana Class are the standout performers at Crayford this Saturday Morning in the semifinals of the Ladbrokes Guys and Dolls. A unique event where the dogs (guys) race in one semifinal with the bitches (dolls) contesting the other. Richie was slightly the quicker when making all in 23:03 last week with Havana Class only just behind on the clock winning in 23:06. The pair meet this Saturday morning where slight preference is for Brookside Richie drawn in box one in the Guys semi. The Dolls semi should go the way of Zoomey Saoirse with Knockboy Kay her main danger.

The Jay and Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger semi finals will also feature on the Crayford card. Bellmore Sally should take the first heat; she was stopped on numerous occasions around here last week and still ran remarkably well to finish as close to Bombardier as she did. With a clear passage she should be hard to beat. Kishlawn Shikara is well draw on the fence and could follow her home. In the second heat the afore mentioned Bombardier will look to get the better of Burgess Hannah and Burgess Elite, ex Irish tracker Navy Blue is also one to note in that at a big price. The card will be live on RPGTV from 11am (GMT)

Weekend’s Best Bet

Crayford Saturday

Jay&Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger

Ante Post: Navy Blue one unit E/W @66/1