TRAPRISE - Billy seeks Cagey conclusion to St. Leger

The 2025 Callaway Pro-Am at Stud Irish St Leger was reduced to a final six classic hopefuls on Saturday, and within a mixed session of fortune for our local challenge in the prestigious Limerick perennial, Christopher Delaney’s Cagey Billy (Pestana-Lilly Lula) will fly the flag in chase of €30,000 this coming weekend.

Arriving to the St Leger on the back of what must be labelled an unlucky runner-up performance in the final of the Tipperary Cup at Thurles, the Roscrea star is without a win in this event but repeated steely qualification efforts sees him a realistic final player if the face of chunky odds now.

In contention throughout Saturday’s semi-final following a smart break from trap 3, the Delaney stalwart duelled with Hello Diego as the pair led to halfway. That strong staying rival crucially held a one length advantage entering the closing bends and checked as the leader turned, Cagey Billy was shuffled back into a desperate scramble for the remaining qualifying places. Bumped and briefly headed by Droopys Deploy in a battle for third place entering the home stretch, Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Sapphire may well have rounded both but for finding her path blocked through further crowding. However, Cagey Billy also sees out the trip strongly and struck the line with a half-length of safety, a total of six and a half lengths adrift of Hello Diego and Blastoff Heffo in a fast 29.49 (+10) for the 550-yards.

The big story of this year’s St Leger is, of course, Clonbrien Treaty as that Graham Holland trained racing legend seeks an astounding hat-trick of wins in the classic and he duly claimed the opposing semi-final with his brilliant early pace. Recovering from a poor start, he posted 29.68 (+10) in defeat of Flight Club after the highly fancied Daleroad Duke missed his break within a luckless session for trainer Pat Guilfoyle.

At first glance, a trap 3 draw for Saturday’s showdown looks nasty for Cagey Billy’s chances with early pacers Drombeg Banner to his left and Clonbrien Treaty on his right shoulder in trap 4. However, Billy has never been draw-dependent and within a wonderful run of form, his biggest weapon at elite level is his consistency.

Should he repeat his latest smart break, a presence amongst those pacesetters to halfway could be ideal while certain to see out the trip as the fast finishers scramble for first crack at any fading leaders.

He’ll be a price, but in a kennel which has a history of converting major event opportunities, as evidenced by the multiple past accolades of Rosbirr Ranger in his career, Billy is no back number, and a big performance is confidently expected.

Ace survives at Dundalk

Staying with elite competition, the 2025 Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup is now reduced to semi-final stage following another exhilarating session of heats at Dundalk on Saturday, and although made to settle for a qualifying third, the Pat Guilfoyle trained Epic Ace (Signet Ace-Free From Desire) survived a treacherous assignment.

Drawn in trap 6 with a middle seed, the John Kennedy owned star was again headed at trap rise and as defending champion Broadstrand Syd edged clear on the run to the corner, Epic Ace crucially rounded Dear Sir for a dispute of third on the outside entering the first bend. Clipped from behind while turning, the Moneygall charge performed with huge credit to retain his qualifying place and there was plenty of merit in his subsequent third place finish.

Six lengths adrift of Broadstrand Syd in 20.91, all connected will be delighted to have negotiated this tough qualification and Epic Ace remains a threat to all ahead of this week’s semi-finals in the 400-yard sprint major.

Bono on song in Ballinalick brace

Without clear passage last time out, Pat Kennedy’s Ballinalick Bono (Broadstrand Bono-Ballinalick Rua) would take an ease in grade ahead of Saturday’s Irish Retired Greyhound Trust A5 525 at Thurles and taking full advantage, sparked a double on the night for his Toomevara kennels.

Last successful at A4 level back in March, the December 2021 whelp was suitably housed in trap 6 and breaking on terms, charted a true line to the opening bend while easing clear of rivals to his inside. Sweeping the corner with two lengths in hand, the Kennedy winner reduced the race to a virtual solo passage when galloping further clear along the backstraight and completing with the minimum of fuss, posted 29.23 with two and a half lengths in hand of a strong staying rival. The performance will bring a return to A3 next time, but he can ably cope if securing clear passage once again.

Completing the kennel double in the later Entries to Racing Office Tonight A6 525, litter sister Ballinalick Ivy (Broadstrand Bono-Ballinalick Rua) secured her fourth career win in dominant fashion.

Bouncing back from an indifferent run of form, she would make a better start from trap 6 this time and contested the lead on the outside of the field before rounding rivals to forcefully strike the front entering the backstraight. Bounding clear to her five and a half-length winning margin by halfway, Ballinalick Ivy stopped the clock in 29.54 and a small rise to A5 next time should hold no fears on this evidence.