TIERNAN SETS O’DORNAN STANDARD AT CLONMEL

Peter Farrell

The opening round heats of the Sorley O’Dornan Memorial A3/A4 525 got underway at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Friday night and of the six heats on offer, it was Young Tiernan who set a pretty high bar.

Owned by Michael Walsh, Young Tiernan was incredibly seeking a first career win since June of last year but a step down in grade was to pay dividends for Walsh’s charge as he breezed to a convincing victory. Installed as the 5/2 second favourite, the son of Pat C Sabbath and Boreen Belle showed the best of the early pace from trap two as he made his intentions felt from the outset. Setting a furious gallop down the back, the strong-staying brindle was never going to be caught thereafter and he cantered to a six length victory over Chief Sydney in second. The time was a blistering 28.63 .10s.

HEAT WATCH

In the opening heat of the night, Rebel Chaser emerged on the right side of a photo finish as Shane O’Flynn’s charge got the better of Shanchol Skellig. Bidding to score for the sixth time, the son of Newinn Taylor and Racksha (2/1) took charge off the second turn and despite coming under serious pressure from the favourite in the closing yards, just held on to win by a short-head. The time was 29.13 .10s.

The favourite did oblige in heat two as Palace Hill made every inch of the running for the New-Ballyboy-Syndicate and Paraic Campion. The heavyweight fawn broke swiftly from trap two and this was to prove decisive as the son of Ballymac Vic and Boozed Bubble shot clear. Foxrock Bob did make brisk inroads come the business end, however, it was too little too late as Palace Hill raced to a two and a half length victory. The time was 29.16 .10s.

Sinbolina doubled her career tally in heat four as Pamela Holt’s bitch won in trap-to-line fashion. Trained by Maurice Organ, the 2/1 chance emerged best of all from her trap one berth and from here, the daughter of Pestana and Sinfonia pulled out all the stops to deny Out Yonder. Two lengths the distance at the line, the time was 29.16 .10s.

In terms of the clock, Lucky Lane (Skywalker Logan - Coooneen Izzy) went next best for John Joe Mulcahy. Running in heat five, the November 21’ whelp was headed for the majority of the contest by Tiermana Sugar, however, dug deep on the run-in to storm past her rival and win by a slender half length. The time was a rapid 28.87 .10s.

So Its Trouble (Deerjet Sydney - Lilies Supreme) landed the final heat of the night as she justified 4/6 favouritism. Trained by Vincent McKenna for Paul Pardy, the June puppy was bidding for back-to-back wins and she took charge off the penultimate bend before closing out a one and a half length victory. The time was 29.60 .10s.