SPEEDSTERS TO DELIGHT AS IRISH SPRINT CUP COMMENCES
Ian Fortune
The sprinters get their chance to shine on a national level over the coming weeks with one of the great competitions on the calendar, the Bar 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup commencing at Dundalk this evening.
The sprint classic boasts a winner’s purse of €20,000 and there is the usual combination of top class, established sprinters and younger, less exposed types on show. The resulting action should prove intriguing with some brilliance thrown in.
A WONDERFUL START
The action gets underway at 7.50pm and the opening heat is perhaps the most interesting of the night.
Exciting youngster Crafty Coolio will be defending an unbeaten record, including three superb wins over the 400yd trip at Dundalk.
He is clearly a real prospect but needs to be at his very sharpest into the turn with Firstpastthepost and more particularly Montana Secret and The Other Aari to contend with. The last named looked a future superstar last year, showing exceptional early speed in each of his starts.
Since returning to action this year, he found traffic in his two sprint outings but has shown enough to suggest a return to his brilliant best is imminent. He is a big player but so too is Montana Secret.
The latter is a half-brother to former Irish Sprint Cup winner Broadstrand Syd and seems certain to appreciate the test on offer over the 400yds. He flew in his latest trial, posting 20.91 and a repeat of that form could be good enough to see him emerge on top for Johnny Linehan.
PABLO RETURNS TO IRELAND
UK raider Thurlesbeg Pablo is an interesting participant in Heat 2.
A talented sprinter across the Irish Sea, the Paul Donovan trained son of Jaytee Taylor is entitled to respect although his lack of experience around Dundalk is a concern.
Born Ranger is a high-class performer over our bends but has moved well in a couple of recent sprint trials. He is respected from an ideal draw on the fence, while Minstrel Rocket and recent Treaty Cup-runner-up Tiermana Hunter can also figure if repeating their best form.
BROWNE TO JUSTIFY SHORT ODDS
Stonepark Browne will be one of the shorter priced favourites on the card in Heat 3.
A finalist in 2025, he returned to Dundalk last weekend, winning an open sprint and is likely to go faster this evening. He is a confident selection to emerge on top with Hackney Dino and Carrig Cartel chosen to chase him through to the second round.
DREAM LOOK THE PART
Tiermana Dream is now amongst Ireland’s best sprinters and is likely to make a bold bid in Heat 4.
He suffered defeat in his latest outing at Dundalk but will come on for that run and is a serious contender for outright honours if reproducing the sort of form he displayed in capturing the Treaty Cup at Limerick.
Tonight, Looking Splendid can emerge as the main danger to the Colm Fitzgerald trained favourite. Looking Splendid caught the eye in his latest defeat, matching The Other Aari into the bend and he seems certain to have a say.
FLYER TO LIVE UP TO HIS NAME
Heat 5 is a wide open affair.
Much will come to the start but Robbies Flyer has shown enough in his relatively short career to suggest he could develop into a talented sprinter. He just gets the nod ahead of Boltaway Wink and Shadow Oftherock.
LUKA AND SCAMPI CLASH
Magical Luka returns to Dundalk in Heat 6 and it will be fascinating to see if he can put his recent defeats behind him.
At his best, the son of King Sheeran is simply sensational but he may need to be at his sharpest with Droopys Scampi amongst his rivals this evening.
Johnny Linehan’s Droopys Scampi has established herself as one of Ireland’s best over two bends and moved well in two recent trials at Dundalk. The duo can toe to toe into the bend but Magical Luka is seen as the one to beat, albeit he must find form.
APOLLO TO RULE
There’s plenty of talented sprinters n show in Heat 7 including UK raider Ballymac Shontae.
Most of his best form has come over four bends but he does boast a couple of fine wins over the sharper trip. He is respected but may need to do everything right to get the better of Supersprint winner Droopys Apollo and the promising Anothercupoftea.
OTHER TO RUN WILD
Early Payout, The Other Wild and Buddy Bruno stand out in the penultimate heat.
The first named is lightly raced but displayed all manner of promise early in his career. He returns to action on the back of a fast spin around Kilkenny.
Buddy Bruno won an Open Unraced 400 around Dundalk in May but needs to find his trapping boots to get involved. Instead, The Other Wild is given the nod. A real speed merchant last year, he could be really suited by the 400yd trip and may have too much ammunition for his rivals.
ANCORA TO BRING THE CURTAIN DOWN
2025 Sprinter of the Year Sogna Ancora lines out in the final heat and is seen as the one to beat, although his rivals include a couple of promising youngsters that could be anything over two bends. Southwind Storm flies to the turn over four bends and has a kind draw on the fence. If making a fast start, expect the Ian Reilly trained youngster to race prominently.
The exact same can be said for the Adam Dunford trained Fantasy Adam. He will need to come away racing from five but is more than capable of going close. Sogna Ancora remains the choice, however. He has struggled to find his best form this year but his latest trial is encouraging.