Corcoran's charge gets the verdict
ONE OF the most prestigious events of the season takes place this coming Thursday night at Enniscorthy - the final of the Red Mills and Michael Foley Memorial 600. A fantastic night's racing has been assembled and the semi-final of the Pettitt's A3/A4 is also down for decision.
The experience of Carlow-trained 'Bullring Bailey' should see Laurence Corcoran's charge take the final at the expense of his younger rival, 'Typical Toast'.
FINAL OF THE RED MILLS 600
1. Moreton Mercury bk d Aug '07 (Top Honcho-Davdor Dashing): Owned and trained by John Spracklen in Saltmills, the son of Top Honcho has been successful in nine of his 47 starts to date. Three weeks ago he beat his litter brother, Dysert Davdor, to win the final of the Horse & Hound Tri-Distance. A well beaten runner-up in last week's semi-final by Typical Toast, he moved wide on the run to the opening bend and then had to recover from a first bend bump. Trio prospects.
2. Bullring Bailey bew d Feb '07 (Droopys Vieri-Early Vintage): Laurence Corcoran's charge is the only unbeaten dog in the stake. His 32.89 clock in the opening round is also the fastest time in the competition to date. A career record of 12 victories from 35 starts is impressive. A strong finisher, the Carlow dog is one of the leading fancies for the decider. Should this fellow be tracking the leaders off the final bend, he is well capable of overhauling them on the run to the line.
3. Lightning Liam bk d Sept '06 (Brett Lee-Lightning Jossie): The veteran of the final, owned by Louis Flanagan, and trained in Inglewood by Johnny Kavanagh, he has been successful in 15 of his 54 starts to date. A fantastic servant to connections, he is a standing dish at the Ross Road circuit. Last season he reached the final of the Leger, Derby and the Grand Prize at his local track. His career best, the 32.57 posted last November, is the fastest of all six finalists.
4. Typical Toast wbk d Apr '08 (Razldazl Billy-Graigues Echo): The Athy dog is youngest and the least experienced of all the finalists. Owned and trained by Michael Malone, he came back in as a reserve last week and shot to prominence in his semi-final when beating his rivals by nine lengths in 33.10. Returned a 5/1 chance on that occasion, he looks certain to start much shorter in the final. He has one career victory to date from eight attempts.
5. Ballina Bob f d Jan '08 (Westmead Hawk-Borneo Belle): Owned and trained in Ballymurn by Veronica Byrne, the son of Westmead Hawk has been successful in four of his 16 starts. Amazingly he has chased home Bullring Bailey in his last three starts.
Well capable of going to the bend, this fellow looks sure to be prominent in the early stages. However, it is difficult to see him turn the tables on Bailey.
6. Ballyverry Lee bk b Mar '07 (Brett Lee-Shanless Euro): She holds the distinction of being the only bitch and wide seed to qualify for the final. She is trained by Harry Seery and owned in partnership by David Burgess and M.J. Lancaster.
She has been successful in 12 of her 30 starts to date. Well beaten by Typical Toast in last week's qualifiers, she looks to have a difficult task here.
