TRAPRISE - Cody takes Good chance to Laurels decider at Cork

Ireland’s most established 525-yard major, the 2022 Irish Greyhound Laurels was reduced to a supremely talented final six challengers on Saturday at Curraheen Park in Cork.

Within a hugely competitive event with the finest of margins in terms of qualification throughout, John Kennedy’s Good Cody (Definate Opinion-Soho Ark) will attempt to deliver a first victory in the prestigious classic for trainer Pat Guilfoyle.

Coming closest when Grangeview Ten missed out by a shorthead and a head in third place back in 2019, a victory in the Laurels would complete a remarkable set of classic wins for the Moneygall kennels. Despite the term “classic” being bandied about for every second Open event in the capital, there remains just six bona-fide classics in racing and the Laurels at Cork is the sole outstanding absentee from the Guilfoyle trophy cabinet.

With a brace of heat wins complementing his brave second round third, Good Cody appeared well housed ahead of the second semi on Saturday last, but his task quickly became a treacherous assignment when making a ponderous start from trap 2. Immediately surrounded by runners on each side throughout the early exchanges, Good Cody looked set for certain bumping when a half a length adrift of a talented trio approaching the first bend. Hugely impressive while displaying the best early dash while sweeping to the lead at the turn, Galloping Sydney took command of the semi-final and three lengths to the good at the top of the backstraight, converted with the minimum of fuss thereafter.

In behind, bumping and crowding gratefully saw all maintain forward momentum and Good Cody emerged from the bends in third position while in pursuit of Priceless King, as Swords Rex recovered from a missed break to challenge for second approaching halfway. Holding the inside line on Good Cody at the closing bends, a remarkable performance from Kirby champ Swords Rex saw him fill second when rescuing his Laurels hopes from likely elimination for the second time in the event. Chasing home the Graham Holland trained forecast, Good Cody ceded victory by a total of three lengths in 28.28 (+10) and all involved will be relieved to have come through yet another exacting test.

The opposing semi-final produced a minor upset as the traditional early paced event saw strong stayer Ballymac Whispa reduce arrears of many lengths when defeating Droopys Edison by two and a half lengths as long-time leader Serene Ace faded to third in 28.15 (+10).

Final Draw: 1) Ballymac Whispa 2) Good Cody 3) Serene Ace 4) Droopys Edison 5) Galloping Sydney 6) Swords Rex

A final with all inside seeded runners, a mischievous draw appears to offer realistic claims of final victory for Good Cody. Capable of leading Ballymac Whispa for command of the rails in the early stages, the vicious early pacer Serene Ace is unlikely to move left too soon, and both should enjoy clear racing room on the run to the corner.

Further out, a pitch on the right-hand side of Serene Ace is far from ideal for the outside trio although all possess the talent to overcome their complicated draws. Should Michael O’Donovan’s Serene Ace lead to the bend as he has done in each of his last three rounds, the race to command second behind him on the backstraight may settle the final and with much bias, Good Cody is selected to track Serene Ace for a winning run in the home straight.

Marvellous four for McKenna

Having returned a double in the opening round of the Liam Brussels Memorial A4 525 Stake at Galway, trainer Vincent McKenna repeated the feat on Saturday when both Lisk Falcon and the Paul Pardy owned So Its Rapid remained unbeaten to the semi-final stage this weekend.

First into action, Vincent’s own Lisk Falcon (Magical Bale-Heathlawn Robin) tracked the early pace in Heat 1 before hugely impressive while striking the front at halfway in a one and a half length victory while posting 29.14 (-20).

Confirming the kennels fervent designs on the event, So Its Rapid (Rosbirr Ranger-Classy Ebony) also remained unbeaten when producing a fastest of the round performance with a facile victory in the concluding Heat 3. Well away from trap 6, the August 2020 youngster never sighted a rival on his way to a nine and a half length rout and posting 28.94 (-20), remains in pole position ahead of the semi-finals.

On a wonderful Saturday, a treble for the Borrisokane kennels came in the A0 525 when Charlie & Tom Bourke’s Ballygraigue Jim (Silverhill Shay-Newlawn Minnie) claimed the seventeenth win of his remarkable career. The McKenna trained July 2019 whelp simply doesn’t do seconds having never filled runner-up spot and defending the rails on the run to the bend this time, extended readily clear thereafter when posting a fastest of the night 28.90 (-20) in a commanding six and three-quarter length verdict.

A fourth winner for the kennels over the weekend sparked the wonderful McKenna exploits on Friday when Tom Bourke’s Ballygraigue Ros (Rosbirr Ranger-Classy Ebony) reverted back to sprinting for a most game S3 350 score, getting up in the dying strides for a half-length verdict in 19.28 (-10), a second race win for the August 2020 youngster.

Bang in-form Blitz at Galway

Back in his career best form of late, Peadar O’Dwyer’s Banter Blitz (Laughil Blake-Southwind Penny) has remained in sparkling form since his latest A3 victory in September and on the back of three smart placed efforts in the interim, bounced back to winning ways at Galway on Friday when securing the ninth victory of his hugely competitive career.

Taking advantage of an ease in grade having chased local rival Toolate Shannon home at A2 level over 550-yards last time, the June 2019 whelp reverted back to 525-yards this time and breaking well from an ideal trap 1 berth, immediately contested the lead on the inside of a trio of leaders throughout the initial exchanges. Bravely defending his rails pitch despite narrowly headed to the first bend, the O’Dwyer winner exchanged a brace of bumps with that nearest rival while turning, before allowing an advancing rival clear passage on his inside entering the backstraight. Back on an even keel approaching halfway however, Banter Blitz effectively settled the contest when forging clear to a one length lead around the closing bends and despite continuing to chart a wider path, bravely defended a half length advantage to the line.

Posting a smart 29.26 (+20) on a gloomy night in the west, Banter Blitz will remain in A2 for his next outing and granted clearer passage, will hold every claim for back-to-back victories.