GREYHOUND PREVIEW: This week’s blog focuses on the semi-finals of the Irish Laurels at Cork, where our antepost selection, Droopys Patriot, is now one of the favourites for the event. At Hove on Sunday, it’s the semi-finals of the Gold Collar where Proper Heiress will be all the rage. Barry looks at all the big races with recommended BETDAQ bets.
The semi-finals of the 2025 Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park take centre stage this weekend in Ireland, where Liam Dowling holds a particularly strong hand. Across the water, the focus in the UK is on the semi-finals of the Gold Collar at Hove, where Proper Heiress looks the standout performer.
Irish Laurels Curraheen Park, Cork
First Semi-Final
🟥 Droopys Patriot
🟦 Trionas Tribe
⬜ Blastoff Heffo
⬛ Ballymac Setanta
🟧 Made To Measure
🔲 Magical On Fire
Verdict:
Our ante-post selection Droopys Patriot remains a major player in the event and has a perfect draw in the opening semi-final. Rob Gleeson’s star tracker is unbeaten in the competition and should make the final barring accidents. He has fine early pace, stays strongly, and is formidable when leading.
His main danger is the hugely exciting Ballymac Setanta for Liam Dowling. Setanta broke the track record last weekend when getting the better of kennelmate Solo And Go, and will look to make every yard once again. He’ll need to do everything right to beat Patriot to the corner, but if doing so he’ll be hard to peg back.
The race to the bend is crucial, but I’ll just side with Patriot to hold his line early and prove too strong down the far side. Blastoff Heffo deserves a mention, a wonderfully consistent greyhound for Philip Buckley, while Magical On Fire, who broke 28 seconds last time, faces a tricky draw and may need luck in running.
Second Semi-Final
🟥 Unanimous Leo
🟦 Prince Naseem
⬜ Faypoint Harvey
⬛ Solo And Go
🟧 Ballymac Brandan
🔲 Lemon Joey
Verdict:
Solo And Go can take the second semi for Liam Dowling. Despite a trap four draw, he may simply have too much early pace for his rivals. If he leads, he should have enough to hold off some strong finishers.
He was just edged out at the first bend by Ballymac Setanta last time in a red-hot contest, but faces nothing with that kind of early pace inside this week.
He can make all, with Lemon Joey fancied to chase him home for Murt Leahy. Joey has the perfect draw as the sole wide seed and is the model of consistency, already a Produce Stakes winner earlier in the year. Unanimous Leo is another with a good draw and can also make the final for Pat Buckley.
Gold Collar Hove
Three semi-finals of the Gold Collar will be run at Hove on Sunday afternoon. All eyes will be on Proper Heiress, who lines up in the first semi at 4:16. Heiress was an emphatic winner last time, breaking the track record in his first start since contesting the Irish Derby final at Shelbourne back in September. He looks as good as ever and should prove impossible to oppose here. Droopys Plunge looks the one most likely to chase him home, with both expected to qualify.
The second semi can go to the in-form Romeo Topcat, who has now won nine in a row, including the Yorkshire Derby at Doncaster and the Kent Derby at Central Park. The draw isn’t ideal, but he’s won from trap six before and appears to have a bit in hand on recent form. Antigua Hawk can follow him home from trap one.
The final semi looks wide open, but with potential crowding inside, Texas Jack gets the nod from trap six. Jack ran well last time, taking up the running down the back after a moderate start, and has solid previous form around Hove. Headford Dane and Droopys Trade will have their supporters, but preference is for Texas Jack to take the last of the three semis.
Friday’s card at Shelbourne will see a red-hot unraced stake get underway. Newinn Hoffa really caught the eye in a trial at Shelbourne Park, and it will be fascinating to see how he goes on debut for champion trainer Graham Holland.
All the best,
Barry.
