ADAMANT HAS THE RIGHT APPROACH AT LIMERICK
Peter Farrell
It was a quiet affair at Limerick last night with no sweepstake action on show for the first time in a number of weeks but there this didn’t take away from some quality performances on the night.
Of the twelve races on offer, one of the standout performances on the night came in race ten as the Track Bookmakers Open/A1 525 was landed in terrific style by Adamant Approach. Trained by John Rainsford for the Any-Sport-Will-Do-Syndicate, Adamant Approach is an excellent tracker on his day but his starting odds of 4/1 suggested he would have to pull it out of the bag in order to notch a seventh career victory for connections. Running from trap one, the son of Pat C Sabbath and Adamant Gem failed to read to the script however, as he pinged the lids to showcase his brilliant early gears in the opening exchanges and make use of his rails pitch to take a slender lead into the back. Chased down the back by the formidable pair of Ballyelan Rolly and Excess Travel, Adamant Approach set a powerful gallop and in truth, his aforementioned rivals never made a yard on him as he stretched his advantage in the closing stages to win in style. Crossing the line with four lengths in hand over Sporry Anna, who arrived late to take second, the time was 29.01 on a track rated .20s on the night. A smart effort from Rainsford’s charge.
IN OTHER RACES
Race seven saw a 575-yard contest go down for decision and it was the evergreen Millrose Brandy who recorded a brilliant fourteenth career win for his owner Ger Cremin. Running from trap three, the striking fawn and white wasn’t given much chance in this A1 contest and he was installed as a 5/1 shot to land the spoils. However, the son of Ballymac Matt and Laghil Linda came away like the wind and he took a two length lead around the opening bend from the classy Meduza in second. Holding his advantage down the back, Millrose Brandy ran a very determined race and despite coming under pressure late on, he crossed the line with three parts of a length to spare. The time was a slick 31.77 .20s.
Race nine was a cracker on paper with many top-class greyhounds taking their chance in the BoyleSports.com AA0/A0 550 but it was another outsider in the form of Drombeg Khalesi who landed a 4/1 upset for Evan McAuliffe. An August daughter of Grangeview Ten and Blastoff Khalesi, Drombeg Khalesi was returning after a short break but she showed no signs of race rust as she bombed from trap one to hold all the aces early on. Setting a powerful gallop down the back, the chasing pack began to close around the bottom two bends but Drombeg Khallesi was nothing if not game and she stayed firm to gain a half length verdict at the line. Whats Up Jack was an eye-catching second after a luckless passage early on, and the time for the winner was 29.18 .20s.
The 29-second barrier was broken again in calculated terms in the penultimate race of the night as Ballyea Scrutiny maintained the trend of upsets on the card. Sent to traps as the 5/1 outsider of the pack, the Noel Gavin-owned runner came away well from trap six and he disputed the lead with the fast-starting Mohane Maggie early on. However, taking control at the crown of the second turn was Ballyea Scrutiny and the Albert Mullins-trained runner drew clear down the back to soon put the contest to bed. Staying on well in the closing stages of the race, the son of Droopys Buick and Flandys Hawkeye sealed an eleventh career victory as he came home a four length winner over Mohane Maggie in second. The time was 29.06 .20s.
The final race on the card was a Novice 750 and after looking like a match race between Gortkelly Mona and Annadown Danny prior to the off, the duo served up a thrilling buckle as the latter came out on top for Geraldine Dillon. Running from trap one, Annadown Danny was a very generous 4/1 chance and he sat nicely just four lengths off the pace passing the stands for the first time. Pearl Express led the way at this point but the 2/5 shot, Gortkelly Mona, began to rev her engine in second place and she took control rounding the fifth turn. However, going along nicely was Annadown Danny and he made his move off the final turn as he stuck close to the rails, before delivering a fast finish up the inside. Crossing the line with a half length to spare over Gortkelly Mona in second, the time was a useful 42.84 .40s.
AN INTER-TRACK TREBLE
Elsewhere on the card, it’s worth mentioning that Stephen Murray landed race six with Derra Misty at Limerick, as well as recording a fine double down at Galway with his trackers, Arrowhead and Krystaline.
Staying with Limerick and it was Derra Misty who was to make no mistakes in her S4 contest as she bolted from trap four to make every yard of the running for joint owners, Rachel Murray and Sean O’Riordan. A 5/2 chance at the off, the daughter of Laughil Blake and Playmistyforme proved a class above her rivals in running to a three length success in a time of 19.24.
Meanwhile, at Galway, both Krystaline and Arrowhead sealed a strong treble for the Murray Kennel. In the opening race of the night at the Connacht track, Krystaline was paw-perfect for joint owners Kevin Ryan and Helen Vaughan as she made every post a winner in running out an eight length victor in 29.17, while Arrowhead produced another terrific performance to seal his fourth win from as many starts. Again owned by Kevin Ryan, this is one of the most in-form trackers in the Country of late and he once more dominated some very useful rivals to come home three and a half lengths clear in a smart 28.80. A fruitful night for Stephen Murray, who continues to showcase his training talents on a regular basis.