GREYHOUND PREVIEW: Barry was in cracking form last weekend with five winners from six selections. This week he previews the finals of the Summer Stayers and Ladbrokes Gold Cup at Monmore with recommended BETDAQ bets.
Finals Night at Monmore
It’s one of the biggest nights of the year at Monmore this Saturday night where a host of finals will be up for decision. The main two will obviously be the Summer Stayers over 630 meters and the Gold Cup final over the standard 480-meter trip. The sprinters will also be on show in the Dash and the Peter Bellingham Memorial Trophy will be the first of the finals due of on the night. Let us look at the best of the action.
Gold Cup Final
🟥 1. Ballymac John
🟦 2. Cunnigar Yousir
⬜ 3. Untold Euro
⬛ 4. Seaview Sydney
🟧 5. Antigua Eagle
🔲 6. Churchfield Syd
Churchfield Syd led for the early part of this years English Greyhound Derby final and the wonderfully consistent son of Droopys Sydney (who sadly passed away last week) can make all in the decider this weekend. Syd has a cracking record at the track and is running at the top of his game for some time now. He deserves to win a big one and if he can come away like he has in recent weeks he should be able to make every yard. Seaview Sydney (4) and Antigua Eagle (5) both ran really well last week but even that recent form will need to be bettered this Saturday. Cunnigar Yousir (2) made the most of a good draw last time out but will need to break a little sharper to lead up Ballymac John (1). Untold Euro (3) ran well behind Antigua Eagle in his semi but has been handed a tricky looking draw. Churchfield Syd is certainly the one to beat and if trapping on terms he will make them all go. Seaview Sydney put in an improved effort last week and can go well again at a price, but Churchfield Syd should take the beating.
Summers Stayers Final
🟥 1. Coonough Crow
🟦 2. Droopys Clue
⬜ 3. Queen Georgia
⬛ 4. Baywatch Bullet
🟧 5. Savana Jackpot
🔲 6. Cooladerry Dust
A cracking final in store and its safe to say this is wide open with some bookmakers calling 5/2 the field. There is little to separate Droopys Clue-T2, Queen Georgia (3) and Cooladerry Dust (6). Droopys Clue is an incredible performer on his day and it’s best to ignore his run in a messy contest last week. He looks to have a better draw in the final and should lead up Coonough Crow in one. Queen Georgia may be the thorn in his side, she is a rapid starter and will edge for the fence on the run to the corner.
There is a possibility of crowding on the inside in the early yards and it may pay to side with the inform Cooladerry Dust. He ran well when making it to the final of the Regency at Hove last month and has won his last three starts over this trip at Monmore. Savana Jackpot in five is devoid of early pace and this should give Dust all the early room he needs. He can go up much better than last time and looks the most likely winner in this for me. Savana Jackpot and Coonough Crow will be running on but will need a little luck. Baywatch Bullet is not starting as well as she can and must bring a PB to play a part.
Monmore Dash Final
I have long been a huge fan of Cree Jo Jo ever since his early days in Ireland. He was unlucky to bump up against some of Irelands best in numerous sprint finals and seems to be improving with each run since his switch to the UK. He stormed home to get the better of Maughere Ace in the semi-finals and can go quicker as he showed in a recent trial work out when he posted 15:21 for the 264-meter trip. If Jo Jo repeats that run, he won’t be beat. Tullymurry Dylan has won six of his last seven and its hard to rule him out and Maughere Ace will be hoping to employ similar tactics to last week and hold on. Bombout Bullet has a good draw on the fence and will be popular, but its going to be Cree Jo Jo for me.
Peter Billingham Memorial Trophy
Some promising puppies line up in the final of the Peter Bellingham Memorial. The wonderfully bred Lion Heart has a pedigree second to none. His mother Susie Sapphire won an Irish Oaks As well as an Irish Derby and this youngster has displayed huge pace in his brief career to date. He has the best of the draw and should improve a fair amount on his recent UK debut. Aero Pattika was another to impress last week and is not without a chance. Keylogues Runner ran well on his race debut last week and is open to much improvement.
Sydney Passes on
The sad news broke over the weekend that Super Sire Droopys Sydney had passed away. There have been many stud dogs that have dominated for periods in recent years, Im Slippy, Frightful Flash, Top Honcho, to mention a few. Droopys Sydney surpassed all of those. Having raced only once his stud career did not take off until he was well past his fifth birthday. It’s hard to win races at Shelbourne Park on a Saturday night but for the last couple of years it was a regular occurrence to see Sydney have six, seven, eight winners on the card. There are still plenty of young upcoming Sydney’s and his offspring will feature for many a year to come.
All the best
Barry
