ACE CAN BOUNCE BACK IN MARTIN FAHY MEMORIAL DECIDER

Peter Farrell

After the success of the On Faya Galway Oaks on Thursday night, attention switches to another pair of feature finals at Galway Greyhound Stadium this evening, with the €3,000-to-the-winner Martin Fahy Memorial 525 taking centre stage.

Kindly sponsored by the Fahy Family, the competition is a fitting tribute to a Galway ever-present and the decider has all the makings of a highly competitive affair, with several finalists holding legitimate claims. Despite tasting defeat in the semi-finals, Deadly Ace is taken to bounce back for the Gary Hannon and Karol Ramsbottom partnership. The July son of Signet Ace - My Little Ivy was an impressive opening-round scorer in 29.37 .20s and, although he surrendered the lead in the semis to suffer a comfortable defeat, he met enough early traffic to suggest that effort is best forgiven. Well housed in trap three, Deadly Ace possesses the early pace to take command and, granted a clear passage, can return to winning ways. That said, Ramsbottom’s runner can ill-afford any mistakes with Charming Ciara expected to mount a serious challenge for Tom and Ciara Kelly. Trained by Donal Duggan, the daughter of Grangeview Ten is the most experienced runner in the line-up by some distance and advertised her credentials with a superb all-the-way success in the semi-finals, stopping the clock in 29.43 .20s. On the strength of that display, she commands major respect, although her draw in four leaves her directly outside Deadly Ace and she will need to stay within striking distance in the opening exchanges. Another with strong credentials is React Jess in five for Evan McAuliffe. Her connections are no strangers to landing valuable finals and she firmly entered calculations when reeling in Deadly Ace in the semi-finals. The draw in five should hold no fears and she is likely to be finishing stronger than most from the halfway point. Of the remainder, Ballyea Marshall appeals as one capable of outrunning his odds. The Albert Mullins-trained runner, owned by Noel Gavin, has shown ability in each of his five career starts and gives the impression there is still plenty more to come. Drawn in six, the well-bred son of Ballymac Best has the pace to mount a challenge from the outside and, in what is a final packed with strong finishers, looks capable of making the frame. Drimeen Jetty and Pierview Big Bob complete the line-up from traps one and two respectively. While both will need to produce career-best displays to lift the prize, neither can be dismissed in what looks a wide-open renewal, and both will be encouraged by favourable inside draws.

HORAN FAMILY SYNDICATE DECIDER

Prior to that, the €1,200-to-the-winner Horan Family Syndicate 525 takes centre stage and Kiltartan Chosen gets the vote to build on his outstanding semi-final performance.

On that occasion, Kiltartan Chosen was electric at traprise before powering five lengths clear in 29.53 .20s for Albert Mullins, Keith Killilea and Christopher Fennessy. The son of Ballymac Cashout has posted some exceptional sectional times in recent weeks and, if reproducing another flying start, looks the most likely leader into the opening bend. From there, he could prove extremely difficult to peg back. His chief dangers appear to be Ozark Magic and Brickhill Dolly, both of whom possess powerful finishing kicks. Ozark Magic came up just short when chasing home Magical Elouise in the semi-finals and continues to move in the right direction on the clock. Drawn ideally in trap one, the daughter of Sober Glory is well housed and would come as no surprise were she to launch a serious challenge. Meanwhile, Brickhill Dolly remains a maiden for Albert Long and John Collins, but she has shown plenty of promise in defeat throughout the competition and looks only a matter of time away from shedding that tag. The daughter of Ballymac Cashout has displayed plenty of pace in each of her outings and is another with strong claims if within striking distance turning for home. Of the remainder, Pat Guilfoyle continues to enjoy a rich vein of form and Magical Elouise demands respect following her semi-final success, while both Poppys Oreo and Trinity Bob have acquitted themselves well throughout the stake and are more than capable of making their presence felt in what promises to be another competitive decider.