WEEKEND GREYHOUND PREVIEW: In this week’s piece we touch on the Dundalk International on Friday night and over at Hove on Saturday it’s the opening rounds of the Regency and the Sussex Cup. Ante post selections for both events.
Duke Looking to add International Title to Recent Champion Stakes Win
Just six days on from taking the €20,000 Champion Stakes at Shelbourne Park, Daleroad Duke will look to land another €20k prize when he lines up in the Dundalk International this Friday night. Big race action also gets underway at Hove on Saturday with the first round of the Regency and the opening round of the Sussex Cup getting underway.
Dundalk Internation
The Dundalk international has always been one of the highlights on the Irish calendar with a huge prize on offer for just the one run. Originally it was the two best from Ireland against the three best from England with the winner of the Dundalk Trophy (Dun Dealgan Trophy) also set to represent Ireland. Sadly, it has less of an international feeling to it of late, and it’s unfortunate not to have an English runner in the event this year. Nonetheless it is a top-class line up as you would expect. Daleroad Duke was a very impressive winner of the Champion Stakes at Shelbourne last weekend and his trainer Pat Guilfoyle has won this race on three occasions in the past. Duke can be a little hit and miss at the start but when he is good, he is exceptional. He has had a recent trial around here and that will stand to him, he looks the one to beat.
Droopys Mandolin was a beaten favourite in the final of the Oaks at Shelbourne Park recently and is another who near unbeatable when on song. Pat Buckley has three in the race and his Unanimouspanther looks to have the best of the draw from trap one. He recently won the Produce Stakes at Clonmel and moved well around here in a recent trial, with one of his better starts this huge tracker will have a major say. The two remaining Buckley runners, Singalong Dolly and Coolavanny Otto are more than capable on their day but are possibly better over a little further and will need to hit the ground running.
Last year’s winning trainer Murt Leahy has Tribal Syd in here. The only wide seed in the contest he should have plenty of room to operate on the run to the corner but may just lack the class of a few of these. This looks to be all on the break for me and Unanimouspanther and Daleroad Duke could be the ones to focus on with a slight preference for the inform Daleroad Duke.
Quality Action at Hove
The opening rounds of the Premier Greyhound Racing Regency and the first-round heats of the Sussex Cup get underway at Hove on Saturday and both events are brimming with talent. The Regency is of course run over 695m while the Sussex cup is 515m. Its tight at the top of the betting for the Regency with Queen Georgie, Ballymac Taylor and Coonough Crow all prominent around the 6/1 mark. Lively Lauren goes well around here and led for much of the way in last years final before being picked up late by the excellent Space Jet. She comes in here having had a light enough campaign in 2024 and should improve as the event progresses. Queen Georgie is relatively new to six bends, but this sort of trip could suit her, and she must be high on any list.
Ballymac Taylor is a real star but would obviously prefer a little further while Coonough Crow and the inform Haka Carlo are expected to play a part in the latter stages of the event. At a big price Cooladerry Dust will be my ante-post selection. He ran well in good company at Towcester recently and has more to offer over six bends. As a wide seed he will get the best of the draw and he makes plenty of appeal at 20/1.
Droopys Clue heads the betting for the Sussex Cup at 5s. He showed his wellbeing just last weekend over this track and trip and before that he was sensational when winning at Towcester on Derby final night. He has a fine draw in the opening round and should come through his first-round heat with the minimum of fuss. Romeo Command and Antigua Forky look the two to focus on in the opening heat of the night, Antigua Forky was formerly known as Optic Chico when trained in Ireland. It looks to have taken him time to adjust to his new kennel, but this sort of trip looks ideal, and the pair should also safely progress into round two.
Clona Curly has a big chance in heat two. Curly is not always the quickest away from boxes but will appreciate this slightly longer trip and the longer run to the bend could work in his favour, it has been bumper car stuff of late for Clona Curly, but he could improve through this event with a couple of clear runs under his belt and looks like a bit of value at around 40s for outright honors.
Ante Post Selections
Regency: Cooladerry Dust each way 20/1
Sussex Cup: Clona Curly each way 40/1
Good luck
BARRY.
