FAYLA TAKES HER CHANCE IN ANN CHEEVERS FEATURE AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

The final of the €1,800 to the winner Ann Cheevers Memorial A4/A5 525 took centre stage at Galway on Saturday night and it was Brickhill Fayla that justified her even money pricetag to come home in front.

Jointly owned by Cyril Collins and Kate Comerford, Brickhill Fayla made a shock exit in the semi finals, however, was on hand to replace the exciting Blacklabel Rose in trap four and she duly grabbed her chance in emphatic fashion as she comfortably led home a smart field. Indeed, the June puppy landed her opening round assignment in 29.04 .10s as she led from trap to line and she implemented a similar tactic in the decider with a swift exit from black. In doing so, the daughter of Good News and Twentylittletoes quickly excelled into the opening turn, while showing fine determination to just squeeze around in front of Fast Fit Pennie in second. Fortune Sydney quickly moved into second down the back, however, Brickhill Fayla was setting a fine gallop and in truth, the chasing pack made little inroads into the strapping brindle. Staying on stoutly around the bottom two bends, Brickhill Fayla never relented as she maintained a powerful gallop to come home three and a half lengths clear of Fortune Sydney in second. The time was 29.22 .10s and it was Fast Fit Pennie who completed the podium in third place.

LITTER BROTHER IMPRESSES

Incidentally, there was earlier success for litter brother, Brickhill Andy, in the Novice 525 and this tracker looks to have a very promising future for John Collins and Albert Long.

Coming into the Novice 525 with two smart trials around the tough Galway circuit, expectations of a big run were confirmed by the starting price of Brickhill Andy at even money and he duly obliged in comfortable style in the end. Disputing early from trap three with Crokers Fluffy in five, there was little to separate the duo for the majority of the contest, however, the superior stamina of ‘Andy’ was to prevail in the end. A very promising type, who will stay further, the son of Good News drew clear in the closing stages to win by five lengths from the gallant Crokers Fluffy in second. The time was 29.10 .10s.

GRANNY ONE FOR THE EXTREME DISTANCES

It was brilliant to see a novice 810 on the card at Galway and it proved a thrilling contest as Bumblebee Granny arrived late to land the spoils.

Trained by Paul Burke for Paddy Burke, Bumblebee Granny was a very impressive scorer of her last outing over the standard trip in 29.19 .10s and she certainly gave the impression on that occasion that she would stay further. That said, when she occupied the rear positions early doors, it looked like a tough ask for the daughter of Gaytime Hawk and Gaytime Luna to get back on terms. Early doors it was Donies Wood who set a fine gallop as he led for around 550-yards of the contest. Cloonturk Bruno took charge entering the penultimate turn, however, as the pack closed, it was Bumblebee Granny who displayed the superior stamina in this mammoth contest to see off Four Fitz Chara, by a half-length. The time was 46.75 .15s for the 3/1 chance.

STORM BACK TO WINNING WAYS

In the Open/A1 525 contest, Hanover Storm bounced back to winning ways as he too arrived late to collar Drombeg Apollo.

This impressive July puppy, owned by Leeanne Fleming, has brilliant pace throughout and this was reflected in the market with his starting price of even money. At traprise, it was Drombeg Apollo who pinged the lids from five and he held a narrow lead over Hanover Storm, who had also trapped lively from six. Holding a three parts of a length lead down the back, there was a sense of inevitability surrounding the result thereafter given Hanover Storm is very strong in the latter stages. This came to fruition around the bottom two bends as Fleming’s charge upped the ante on the run for home and the son of Slippery Robert and Be Slow Dor galloped clear to cross the line two lengths better off than Drombeg Apoll