All eyes on Carrick Aldo ahead of Tote Gold Cup semi-final
Carrick Aldo is the 5/2 outright favourite with the bookies to win the Tote Gold Cup but he will be even shorter than that tonight to win his semi-final heat.
This son of Droopys Sydney – Minnies Hazel is looking to maintain his unbeaten streak in the competition after clocking 28.05 and 28.18 respectively in his last two outings. Trained by David Murray for Thomas Glynn from Edenderry, Carrick Aldo is running out of his skin so that makes him hard to oppose.
He was outstanding when winning the Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk last year as well as reaching the final of the Irish Laurels.
He has another fine sprinter to compete with in this heat however as Road Exile will be flying into the first bend from trap five for trainer Pat Buckley.
He returned to winning ways last week when winning in a fast time of 28.31 so a repeat performance could mean a great battle of early dash into the opening turn.
Speaking of greyhounds who are running out of their skin, Boylesports Coco was awesome when winning her heat in 28.30 for owner John Boyle and trainer Dolores Ruth. She took up the lead after a few strides beating trap one here Ballymac Finn by a length and a half so she won’t be far away.
A view of Shelbourne Park
Lotto Other News races from trap three for trainer Shaun Conway and needs to be at his sharpest here while the same can be said for Simons Cap in trap six for trainer Marie Gilbert.
Glengar Martha looks the one in the opening semi-final. This daughter of Droopys Sydney – Glengarbadminton is also looking to hold onto her unbeaten path in this competition for trainer Pat Buckley. She won by another large margin last week with eight lengths separating her and Another Holiday in a blistering time of 28.07. Owned by William Wood, Martha is well housed in trap five but there are dangers everywhere so she must produce another great performance.
Another Holiday can easily set the pace from trap three for trainer Michael J O’Donovan so he looks like the biggest worry while Octane Cora in trap one and Jetstream Breeze in trap two will both by flying home.
The finale could go to the Robert Gleeson trained Optic Chico in trap five. He won his heat in the opening round of the Gold Cup in 28.28 coming from behind but then suffered defeat last week after stumbling at the traps. Superfast Gorden looks an exciting prospect for the year ahead with trap one to suit this Pat Buckley trained youngster.
He was brilliant in the Kingdom Derby so it won’t come as a surprise if he lands the spoils as he has already won over course and distance in a time of 28.33 last October.
The A2 Kilbride Kennels Midlands Derby 550 kicks off at Mullingar Greyhound Stadium tonight with eight competitive heats to look forward to. A total prize fund of €10,035 is on offer with €3,300 of that for the winner. The likes of Eagle in heat 4 and A Thousand Faces in heat 8 are worth a wager but we will have a better idea after the opening round has been completed.
The €11,000 Juvenile Classic got underway at Kingdom Greyhound Stadium on Friday night and it’s worth keeping an eye on this competition as future classic winners are likely to emerge from it.
Greyhound Racing Ireland and legendary Waterford Senior hurler John Mullane launched the “ Love Your Club” campaign earlier this week with a chance to win €5,000 shirt sponsorship for one adult male club and one adult female club. Head on grireland.ie/LoveYourClub for more information on how your club can enter the competition.[1]
Shelbourne Park
Race 7 – Trap 5 Glengar Martha
Race 8 – Trap 4 Carrick Aldo
Race 9 – Trap 1 Toolmaker Bud
Race 10 – Trap 4 Ballymac Wendy
Race 11 – Trap 5 Optic Chico
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References
- ^ grireland.ie/LoveYourClub (grireland.ie)
- ^ signing up for free email alerts (www.irishmirror.ie)