GREYHOUND PREVIEW: In this week’s piece we focus on the action from Clonmel on Sunday night featuring the final of the Rural Kennels Open Unraced Stake, we also look at the supporting card which will be live on SIS. With the Winter Derby set to start next week at Monmore we also take a look at their card for this Saturday night.
The Irish season is about to really kick into gear in the coming weeks and this Sunday at Clonmel will see the final of the Rural Kennels Open Unraced Stake, live on SIS. It has produced some stars in its time and this Sunday’s line-up looks as good as ever. Let’s take a look at the best of this weekend’s action.
Clonmel Sunday (Live on SIS)
Final – 2026 Rural Kennels Open Unraced Stake
🟥 Grouchos Cossie
🟦 Gaytime Clyde
⬜ Vivaro Warrior
⬛ Newinn Spot
🟧 Jacktavern Alf
🔲 Skywalker Bruno
Verdict: This event has been a stepping-stone for some real stars and the roll of honour includes the likes of Swords Rex, Jackslittlething and Newinn Session, to name just a few. Newinn Spot will likely start favourite. He is unbeaten in three starts and is drawn on the right side of what looks to be his main rival in Jacktavern Alf.
The Pilar Syndicate own the well-bred Jacktavern Alf and they won this event back in 2021 with Jackslittlething. Alf tasted defeat for the first time in last week’s semi-finals when he was beaten by the strong-running Vivaro Warrior. Conditions probably went against Alf last weekend on a track rated .40 slow and if he can break in his best fashion, he could make them all go. He has no room for error and must be at his sharpest from lid rise for trainer Adam Dunford.
Champion trainer Graham Holland has an excellent record in the event. His Riverside Kennels operation won the race for five years on the spin with Newinn Session (2020), Jackslittlething (2021), Swords Rex (2022), Rural Kihei (2023) and Romeo Taylor in 2024, with the Jennifer O’Donnell-trained The Other Wild taking the prize last year. Graham has two representatives this Sunday evening with Gaytime Clyde and the unbeaten Newinn Spot, who is likely to go off favourite. Spot is owned by Kenny Glen and has yet to see a rival in three starts, making all on each occasion and improving with every run. His 28.20 run last week was particularly eye-catching when you take track conditions into account and the youngest of the line-up is the one to beat.
The second of the Holland runners is Gaytime Clyde, who has yet to win in three starts but is another who has improved on the clock in all three runs to date. He is the oldest of the runners and will be doing his best work from halfway. Vivaro Warrior has won his last two starts and was impressive when getting the better of Jacktavern Alf in the semis. He needs to come away racing but is not without a chance.
Grouchos Cossie and Skywalker Bruno make up the sextet. Neither has yet to win but they are clearly a talented duo. Cossie has the best of the draw on the inside and must make that pay if he is to have any chance. He came away better when drawn in this box last week but will need to go even faster to have a say. Skywalker Bruno completes the line-up. He qualified in style and I’m convinced we have yet to see the best of him. The draw could work in his favour and he will attract support.
It’s a cracking final and the break is vital. It’s hard to oppose Newinn Spot and if he can hold Jacktavern Alf to the corner that could be key. Alf has a big chance if he hits the lids and I’m certain we have yet to see the best of Skywalker Bruno, but Newinn Spot just gets the nod.
Best of luck to all connections.
Final – John White A3/A4
The A3/A4 John White Final will also be run on the card and the Pilar Syndicate are strongly represented by Jacktavern Turbo, trained by David Byrne. Turbo hit the track back in August of last year and performed with real credit behind the hugely promising Knockeen Aliya in a red-hot open unraced sprint at Shelbourne Park. He then disappointed in a couple of outings over four bends, but after a short break he has returned to the track in blistering form. He has been sensational in winning all three rounds of this competition thus far and has plenty in hand on his rivals. With a level start, Turbo should prove too good, with the strong-running Arrow Twirl the obvious danger.
The Sporting Press Online Edition A1/A2 550 Final
The A1/A2 550 is another valuable final up for grabs on the card. Youngsters Canavour Bucko and Sure Exile were both impressive semi-final winners and the pair look set to dominate. Sure Exile just gets the nod on the draw, although Bucko has won well from trap five earlier in the event. It looks between the pair, with Chaotic Maus well drawn as the sole wide seed, but Sure Exile gets the nod.
Monmore Saturday
It’s well worth keeping an eye on the Monmore card this Saturday evening with a number of classy performers getting a look at the track in preparation for the upcoming Winter Derby.
Former Irish trackers Pain Barrier and Carrick Scholsey clash in the 9:34 race. Scholsey has some cracking form around Shelbourne Park when trained by Robert Gleeson and has not been in the UK that long. Monmore could be tailor-made for him and he should improve on what we have seen so far. He will need to step up on last week’s effort but it’s too soon to write him off.
Bockos Frankel is another who impressed around Shelbourne at the back end of last year. I was present on November 15th when he was backed off the boards and won with plenty in hand in a decent contest. He looks a greyhound of huge potential but faces a tough task to get the better of the excellent Rackethall Brute.
We will take a closer look at the action from Monmore next weekend.
Coursing at Clonmel
The National Meeting at Clonmel will be run over the weekend with the finals set for Monday afternoon. Callaway Pat (Derby) and Cujo (Oaks) will be my tentative selections.
Jan Total: -2.5 points
All the best,
Barry.
