S/F Heat Guide

 SEMI-FINAL 1

	NATIVE CHIMES Kileedy                                                                       Outright 5/1 Ran a cracker after early bumps last week & appears ideally drawn for bold bid all round.
	BORSALINO Castletown Ballyagran                                                                    12/1 Strong runner & another solid run in latest 3rd, power off 2nd bend, must lead T1 for win.
	IVY HILL BLITZ Banogue                                                                                      50/1 Has battled through poor draws so far & strong runner has trio claims now if well away.
	RATHNASARE CHAMP Feohanagh Castlemahon Ladies Football                   10/1 Vicious early pacer looks likely to lead round. Caught late by T1 in Rd2, same scenario?!
	COMETWOPASS Gerald Griffins                                                                           16/1 Big early pacer is unbeaten in Kirby. Big test now in tricky draw, must get 1st run at T4.
	JAYTEE BARRACUDA Templeglantine                                                                 12/1 Back on form last week in very decent 2nd. Ideally drawn & trio claims minimum, respect!

Guide: It should almost be guess work as to who will lead up at this stage of a major event and especially with pups but such have been the brilliant displays of early pace from Rathnasnare Champ thus far that the only viable assumption now is that he leads again. Using that same logic and taking past performance as the best predictor for future outcome, we must then look to what will pass him in the home-straight. Francis Murray's speedster has been mugged close home on the past two Kirby Saturday's and the prediction is for the same again now as Native Chimes has seen his latest brave endeavour rewarded with an ideal draw on the fence.

Fancied to defend his rails pitch and turn in a threatening position at the top of the back-straight, the Leger runner-up can continue to build on the progression he is showing from round to round and is the choice for victory. Housed between the aforementioned pair is far from ideal for either Borsalino or Ivy Hill Blitz and they will roll the dice for clear passage at the bends. Both are strong runners who will power along the back-straight and whoever comes off best at the second bend, will have claims to qualify.

Of course, the unbeaten Cometwopass must come into the equation but being drawn outside Rathnasnare Champ is far from ideal and much will depend on his own behaviour if, as suspected, he is led from traps by that rival. If Cometwopass seeks to move inward and thus negate his best weapon which is his brilliant early pace, his chance could well be gone and although he has never been drawn further out than Trap 3 in his short career so far, the suspicion is that he will want to move left at the earliest opportunity.

The best drawn runner in the race is certainly Jaytee Barracuda and he bounced back to top form in no uncertain manner last time. A repeat of last week's battling effort looks almost assured to see him through with a highly likely clear run. Verdict 1-4-6

	SEMI-FINAL 2 DRIVE ON TIPP Crecora                                                                             Outright 7/1 Failed to find clear run last twice, must trap for win but expect big challenge down back.
	BENTEKES BOCKO Ahane                                                                                        8/1 Brilliant early pacer hardly saw a rival so far. Drawn to lead inside, catch me if you can!
	COOLAVANNY PET Murroe Boher Camogie                                                           4/1 Game staying efforts last twice & can trap faster. Track T2 for run at bend, pounce late?!
	SHEWHODARESWINS Patrickswell                                                                        40/1 Powerful stayer will make trio bid late on & repeat of latest break may bring early passage.
	HIGHER LEVEL Croagh Kilfinny                                                                             33/1 Also a powerful finisher & can threaten late if secure run ahead of similar types, respect!
	VANCOUVER SHEA Adare                                                                                        5-2 Unbeaten & the fastest in the event so far. Ideally drawn for clear run, obvious favourite.

Guide: A fascinating mix of early pace and staying power and of course we have a race within a race here for the three remaining bitches in the event are all housed beside each other as they do battle for the €5000 bonus prize. Qualification is paramount however and is a complicated prediction for any of the three bitches, unlike two perfectly drawn unbeaten runners who look set to dominate the early part of this semi-final.

Benetekes Bocko has been displaying brilliant early pace and is ideally suited by Trap 2. It is reasonable to expect that he can lead on the inside again now and his path to the final appears straightforward, if he breaks he qualifies! Also perfectly drawn is Vancouver Shea and the fastest runner of the event so far is the most likely to gain clear racing room. The obvious choice for victory, he can get first run at Bocko and can prove too strong in the home-straight.

That all sounds quite simple in theory but for the latter in particular it probably is. However, there are many scenarios that could play out here and discount Drive On Tipp at your peril. Possessing smart early pace, he faces a similar run to the bend as last week with an early pacer on his immediate outer but Bocko did have the rail to himself which aided his cause a week ago and if Drive On Tipp produced his best break here, he could defend his rails pitch and severely dent Bocko's challenge while bringing a winning opportunity for himself.

So to the bitches and the most certain aspect of their challenge now is that all three will be finishing with a wet sail. It's likely that there may only be one place up for grabs between the trio and where they are positioned at the top of the back-straight will dictate who claims it. The draw is key and being on the inside of her lady rivals may swing this for Coolavanny Pet. A tenacious performer, she may benefit greatly on the inner if the pair of dogs on her left produce their best early paced form as she would track them and claim a rails run in behind.

Her problem however is Shewhodareswins for the latter is that rare type of stayer who although not possessing top early pace, can trap fast which can secure her a position from which to launch her phenomenal finishing kick. She could trap, move inward and severely damage Pet's aspirations by crowding her on the run-up. Worst drawn in the heat is Higher Level but she has been dismissing problematic draws throughout the event and while it is hard to predict an early path for the strong stayer her saving grace may be that she appears likely to keep a straight line on the run to the bend and should there be any crowding on her left, she may turn in front of her fellow lady challengers and would be short-odds to qualify thereafter. A fascinating encounter but in win terms, keep it simple. Bocko leads on the inner, Shea on the outer with the latter proving too strong late on and for the trio, it is difficult to suggest that Coolavanny Pet can be knocked out, despite the various complications. Verdict: 6-2-3

The Quarter Finals Replayed