SHELBOURNE PARK SATURDAY: Barry previews the highlight on the card, the final of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby with €25,000 to the winner.
Time For Juveniles to Shine at Shelbourne Park
The Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby is the headline of a stunning card from Shelbourne Park this Saturday night live on Racing Post Greyhound TV. In addition to the Puppy classic, we also have the first round of the Yvonne Barry Track Bookmaker Open 600 where recent Derby finalists Bens Teddy and Music Glideaway will prove popular in their respective opening round heats.
Time Greyhound Juvenile Derby.
Short Grip
Ballinakill Alf
Droopys Zelda
Unmatched
Highview Splash
Droopys Flytline
Verdict: It’s safe to say the early yards will go along way to deciding the outcome in an open final. Ballinakill Alf is a greyhound with stunning early pace and with a swift getaway he will be the one to beat. The issue for Alf is the presence of Short Grip on his inside. Short Grip will certainly move towards the middle of the track on the run to the corner and if Alf is to mistime the start, he could find himself in real trouble. Short Grip posted a career best sectional of 2.02 last weekend and will prove a real thorn in the side of Ballinakill Alf if he can repeat that. Highview Splash got the better of Ballinakill Alf last weekend when breaking fast and turning in a handy second down the far side, Gerry Merriman’s son of Pat C Sabbath moves powerfully from halfway, but the draw has been unfavorable and despite his immense pace he will need luck. Robert Gleeson’s Droopys Flytline has once again been handed a trap six draw despite being an inside. Flytline broke fast from this box last week to post a career best 27:96 and will be hard to contain if reproducing that run. The two ladies in the field Droopys Zelda and Unmatched will be running on well from halfway but one suspects they may need a little luck. I’ll just side with Ballinakill Alf to out trap Short Grip and make all. It’s a fantastic competition and all the runners involved in the final will go on to bigger and better things in 2024.
Supporting Card: Action gets underway at 19:20 at Shelbourne on Saturday night. Stonepark Molly can go well in the open bitch 525 at 19:39. A fine winner in 28:50 around here recently Molly should have to much pace for her rivals, Rural Kihei will be finishing fast but needs to turn close to land a blow. Hawkfield Blue was a Champion Stakes finalist earlier in the year and returned to his very best last time out when making all in a flying 28:00. He has once again been handed the red jacket and will be hard to beat with a swift exit at 20:14. Recent Irish Derby third Bens Teddy is the standout name in the first heat of the Yvonne Barry Track Bookmaker Open 600 at 21:09. Pat Buckleys powerhouse will be suited by the extra yards and is impossible to oppose. Shelbourne regular Lotto Six One ran well to score last weekend and could go well at a bit of a price. The second heat at 21:24 looks wide open but a chance is taken that Jetstream Breeze can get to the front early and make all for trainer Marie Gilbert. Another Derby finalist Music Glideaway goes in heat three in what is a red-hot contest. Glengar Elvis moved well in a recent trial and came home well from the third bend on that occasion, the extra yards should prove no problems for him. Optic Chico ran well in a hot contest behind Undulation last time out and should have a say while Neon Lights who ran so well in the Michael Fortune Memorial Plate could also play a part. Music Glideaway just gets the vote for me; he will be suited by the longer run to the bend and will look to make all. Gaytime Hugo has the draw to make all in a tricky looking forth heat at 21:52 and Well Met should go well in the lucky last.
Shelbourne Park will be live on RPGTV this Saturday night from 7pm.
