LEGER TICKETS ON OFFER AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

With the 1xBet Irish St. Leger fast approaching, Limerick Greyhound Stadium stages three graded trial stakes tonight, each offering the winner a coveted free entry into the €30,000-to-the-winner Classic, which gets underway on Halloween night.

In total, there are three graded trial stakes on offer and the first gets underway in race six, an A2 550, where Company Man gets the vote for Michael Keating. A six-time winner, the son of Grangeview Ten has been keeping better company of late and the extra 25 yards in trip should play to his strengths. Drawn in six, expect Keating’s charge to be within touching distance come the business end of proceedings. Of his rivals, Snuggie Tasha rarely runs a bad race for Myles Cummins and looks a leading threat from trap five.

An A1 trial stake follows in race seven and the strong-running Kevinsfort Trump gets the nod following a brilliant performance at Thurles on his latest outing. On that occasion, the Paraic Campion-trained runner came from off the pace to clock an impressive 31.54 .40s and has been handed a favourable draw in two to make his presence felt. Hollywell Merlin is also a major player. Alison Coxon’s runner is a Galway specialist and, should he transfer that form to Limerick, he won't be far away. The well-drawn Tyrap Malachi is another who cannot be discounted for David Carroll in red.

The last of the trial stakes comes in race eight, another A1 contest, where Hufflepuff is an interesting contender for Lucy Roche in five. She arrives with just four career starts under her belt and was particularly eye-catching on her penultimate outing, coming from well off the pace to clock 27.41 over the 500-yard trip at Tralee. The daughter of My Redeemer should certainly appreciate the galloping Limerick circuit and could prove the improver from trap five. Her rivals include the progressive Vigorous Xana and Taylormade Deone, who is well housed in trap one.

OPEN ACTION

Away from the trial stake action, there are some cracking contests on offer, with several runners likely to feature in the opening round of the St. Leger in a few weeks' time.

In race four, the Open 525 could see Thurlesbeg Duke go close for Con Guiney. The son of Priceless Jet has some superb Shelbourne form in the book and looks tailor-made for Limerick. The likes of Canavour Bucko and Doonmore Dream appear the main dangers in what promises to be a competitive affair.

Race five is over the Leger trip and Hackney Plan will bid to make a winning return to action for Michael O’Donovan. A semi-finalist in this year’s Con & Annie Kirby Memorial, he clearly appreciates the venue and has been handed a lovely make-up in trap one. Recent trials suggest he is approaching his best and, if trapping on terms, he could take some stopping. His rivals include Droopys Winsome, who will be flying from halfway, and Blastoff Heffo, who rarely disappoints for Philip Buckley.

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