Spring time is Produce time
Down Clonmel way preparations have moved up a gear in anticipation of the imminent running of the premier puppy prize, the Red Mills Produce Stakes.
Thanks to the generous backing of the Goresbridge company, this year’s winner will net a substantial €25,000.
Entries are now being accepted for this eagerly awaited classic, which is all set to kick off on April 1.
That’s definitely a date worthy of attention, as is the closing date of Monday, March 29.
This year’s total prize fund is a recession-busting €48,400, so a top class entry can be expected.
Joker holds trump card
THURLESBEG JOKER can return to winning ways in the semi-finals of the Tote Gold Cup over 525 yards at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.
It is all change at the top of the ante-post market after last week’s shocks, which saw several of the leading fancies exit the competition, but the Joker survived and is now one of the market leaders.
Owen McKenna’s runner was hugely impressive in the opening round when scoring in 28.32 but got no run at all in last week’s second round when drawn inside Tyrur Giovanni, who turned left from trap six at the start.
However, with Tyrur Giovanni now in four, the son of Head Bound has the outside to himself and is fancied to lie in a handy position before turning on the power from the second bend.
Soldier Laddie on the march
SOLDIER LADDIE can build on his promising performance in the heats with victory in tonight’s (Friday) second round of the Mike Cronin Readymix Juvenile Classic over 525 yards at Tralee.
Last week the son of Razldazl Billy soon had his rivals at full stretch and came home clear to score in 28.75.
He only faces only one of last week’s other winners, Hollys Wish (29.15), in the penultimate eliminator and is fancied to quickly go beyond recall.
Hall of Fame for Liam Drennan
LIAM DRENNAN, the Borris-in-Ossory Secretary, has been selected as the Hall of Fame recipient for 2010, writes Tony O’Connor.
The induction for this extremely popular Laois man will take place at the Coursing Awards night at Hotel Minella, Clonmel on Saturday, April 17, next.
Liam is renowned nationwide for his expertise in hare husbandry which is of course the greatest skill of all in the sport of coursing.
66 line out for Cesarewitch
66 RUNNERS are due to line out at Mullingar this Saturday for the first round of the 2010 Gain Feeds Cesarewitch.
Marathon Greyhound of the Year Corporate Attack has been entered along with Frisky Fantasy, who finished second in last year’s final; Eden Brett, winner of the North West Derby and the Ulster Champion Stakes; Hee Haws Montana, Rough Robinho, All Dolled Up and Quick Sand.
Going against Denman so try Poq luck, says Findlay
HARRY FINDLAY, part-owner of Cheltenham Gold Cup contender Denman, placed a question mark against the chances of his 2008 winner in tomorrow week’s major feature.
Coursing regular Findlay told the Sporting Press on Tuesday: “Denman is well enough, but there is no significant rain forecast for the Cheltenham area in the next week or so and the ground is going to go against him.”
Findlay, who was out in the fields walking his greyhounds when we spoke to him, then offered readers a couple of tips for the big Festival meeting: “One horse who will love the ground is Poquelin in the Ryanair Chase on Thursday.”
Derby finalist Faypoint clears cobwebs in trial
FAYPOINT MAN clocked a decent 28.75 when winning a two-runner trial from trap four in easy fashion before racing at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.
Fear-some trial showing by Lister's flying champ
FEAR ZAFONIC, Britain’s 2009 Greyhound of the Year, went inside the sprint track record in a trial spin at Nottingham on Monday.
Charlie Lister’s Derby runner-up registered 17.41 on going .20 fast, which is ten spots faster than the 305 metres record, held jointly by Against The Lead and Ningbo Jack
Paul on the money in Supersprint at Cork
THE four quarter-finals of the Kudos Supersprint over 330 yards are down for decision at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.
Kilmoney Paul, from a rails draw, cannot be opposed in the first and is given a confident vote to chalk up a five-timer.
Coffey calls for clarification on Gormley’s comments
FINE GAEL Waterford Senator, Paudie Coffey, has called for clarification from the Departments of Agriculture and Sport on comments made by the Environment Minister, John Gormley, that the existing regulation governing the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) and the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is inadequate.
Senator Coffey went on to say that the Minister’s comments, which could potentially be extremely damaging for the industries, demand a response from the Departments that preside over each respective body.
“Statements last week by the Environment Minister, while debating the Dog Breeding Bill in the Seanad, that the current legislation that governs the IGB and the ICC is inadequate, are potentially toxic and could potentially cause irrevocable damage to these industries, domestically and internationally.”
