WELL-DRAWN SLICK SANCTUARY SELECTED FOR LAURELS SUCCESS

Barry Drake

A bumper crowd is expected at Curraheen Park tonight for the final of the €30,000 to the winner BAR 1 Betting Irish Greyhound Laurels.

The 12-race card also features the final of the €10,000 to the winner Michael (Bart) Leahy Memorial, with other finals and a superb supporting card.

The Laurels decider is the showpiece, due off at 9.24 pm, and Slick Sanctuary can make it a night to remember for trainer Karol Ramsbottom. The Keith Allstop-owned runner has impressed throughout the event despite tricky-looking draws. In the semi-finals, he produced a stunning front-running winning performance to beat Ballymac Kamala, by two lengths, in 28.20. That came from trap four, and he's better drawn here, along the rails. With a quick start expected, he can lead along the inside early, and if that's the case, he shouldn't be for catching.

Droopys Unreal is next best for trainer Ian Reilly and owners the Actingdamaggot Syndicate. The November puppy has delivered a couple of outstanding performances in recent weeks. He's clocked 28.15 and 28.20 the last twice, and he's another one that is well drawn in trap three. He will go up straight, and he should be in the mix throughout.

Track Record holder Ballymac Setanta has a tough draw, out in trap four, but he can't be ruled out. He broke the track record in the opening round, but he enjoyed plenty of luck at the opening corner last week. He is one of the very quickest in the country, but he will need an explosive start to land the spoils tonight.

Dowling has two in the final; Ballymac Kamala runs from trap five, and she is a lively outsider. Sure Exile would be a fairy-tale result for the local kennel of Andy Lynch. Magical Jet has the worst of the draw out wide for Pat and Donal Guilfoyle.

Champion trainer Graham Holland can take the €10,000 to the winner Bart Leahy Memorial event with Half Yours. He can be hit or miss at the traps, but he displayed all sorts of speed in defeat last week, and with a level start, he is the one to beat. Flyers Penney is well drawn along the inside of the track, and Colm Fitzgerald's fast-starting lady should be in the mix throughout. Paul Hennessy has three in the final, and Ceekay Susie, for the Naughton family, Cloyne, will carry plenty of local support from a tricky draw in trap five.

Fermoy Eddie Lingane can strike in the third; Ballydorgan One can make it back-to-back winning performances in the €2,000 to the winner Shanahee Boomer @ Stud Dual Distance final. The selection can start and stay, and she impressed on her comeback run last time out. With further improvement expected, she should take all the beating.

Tiermana Dream, a winner of the Treaty Cup and Irish Sprint Cup, can make it back-to-back wins in the Open Sprint on Laurels final night by winning the third race for trainer Colm Fitzgerald. He's a super-talented tracker, and he can prove too strong for the Jennifer O'Donnell-trained The Other Aari.

In the Laurels consolation, Droopys Monk can make a quick return to winning ways for trainer Barry Clancy. He was one of the stars of the Laurels; however, a step to the right at the opening corner last week proved costly. He is all class, and he can make all.

Curraheen Park selections for Saturday

Race 1: Swords Robin (Ballymac Cashin)

Race 2: Tiermana Dream (The Other Aari)

Race 3: Ballydorgan One (NB) (Glassey Alley)

Race 4: Super Syd (Ropewalk Ranger)

Race 5: Swords Style (Solo And Go)

Race 6: Silent Noelle (The Other Eimearr)

Race 7: Lennies Desire (Blackstone Cola)

Race 8: Droopys Monk (Sober Barry)

Race 9: Slick Sanctuary (Nap) (Droopys Unreal)

Race 10: Half Yours (Flyers Penney)

Race 11: Journalism (Ballymac Gwennie)

Race 12: Priceless Robbie (The Other Wild)

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