MONK CAN MAINTAIN UNBEATEN RUN IN BAR 1 BETTING IRISH GREYHOUND LAURELS

Barry Drake

Following on from a sensational 28.09 winning performance, DROOPYS MONK is selected to make it three straight wins in the second semi-final of the BAR 1 Betting Irish Greyhound Laurels at Curraheen Park.

Trained by Barry Clancy for owners Graham Ashe and Tommy Kelly, the selection has delivered some stunning performances around course and distance and with another quick start, he will take plenty of beating. He will need to produce his quickest start from traps, but in doing so, he's the one to beat.

Ballymac Sentanta broke the track record in the opening round, and Liam Dowling's star was turned over at very short odds last week. He has a horrible draw out in trap six and he will need to be shart early doors. He was moving in from three last week, and the draw is a huge concern for his army of supporters. Lone Calling, trained by Michael O'Donovan for William Keane, has plenty of pace, and from the rails pitch, a big run is expected in this.

In the opening semi-final, the well-drawn Magical Jet for Patrick and Donal Guilfoyle is the pick. He impressed last week, pulling out all the stops in the closing stages to beat Microchip. It was a 28.39 winning performance, and he looks capable of going even better. With another quick start along the fence, he should be hard to beat. Microchip re-opposes, and he produces his quickest start from trap two; he should lead and, in doing so, will take a big of catching. The Ian Reilly-trained Droopys Unreal made the most of the inside to win, in 28.15 last week, and he's not without a chance from trap five this time around.

In the third and final semi-final, a narrow vote goes to Sober Barry for trainer Karol Rambottom and owner Sean Malone. The selection ran a cracker in the opening round, clocking 28.01, and he ran another huge race in defeat from the outside last week. He looks capable of winning the early lead, and that would be the winning of the race.

Liam Dolwing's Ballymac Kamala has the magic box once more in trap one, and she has real claims of making it back-to-back wins. She made the most of the draw last week, winning in 28.12, and another bold show is likely. It will be a real race to the corner with Sober Barry.

Trained by Graham Holland for Pat Muldoon and Eugene Buckley, Half Yours is selected to take the opening semi-final in the Bart Leahy Memorial. The selection has a fantastic card, and although turned over last week, he looks capable of bouncing back to winning form in this. He has a nice touch of early speed and stays on well also. He should turn alongside the early pace and prove too strong. Lennies Jack was a length ahead of the selection last week, and he's another player for trainer Paul Hennessy. He had the plum draw last week from trap one, and it won't be as straightforward this week from trap two.

Trained by Paul Hennessy for John Naughton, the improving Ceekay Susie is the one to be on in the second semi-final. She is going the right way, and the selection has lovely early speed. From the rails pitch, she is selected to make every yard of the running. Happy Me, for Shane Murphy, and Oriental Diamond, for Denise Ryan, are others that should be in the mix in this.

Curraheen Park selections for Saturday

Race 1: Swords Robin (Bouncing Duchess)

Race 2: Droopys Quickpic (Boomers Brother)

Race 3: Priceless Robbie (Two Chimneys)

Race 4: Clonavanny Blue (Callaway Katie)

Race 5: Half Yours (Early Home)

Race 6: Ceekay Susie (Nap) (Happy Me)

Race 7: Magical Jet (Droopys Unreal)

Race 8: Droopys Monk (Ballymac Setanta)

Race 9: Sober Barry (Ballymac Kamala)

Race 10: The Other Mel (Noon Ballad)

Race 11: The Other Eimear (Long Siesta)

CLICK HERE TO BOOK ADMISSION FOR RACING IN CURRAHEEN PARK