IMPRESSIVE LONE VENOM LANDS SLIEVENAMON UNRACED

Peter Farrell

There was €1,000 on offer to the winner of the Slievenamon ON1 525 and Lone Venom maintained his impressive unbeaten start with a dominant performance in the decider.

After winning in 28.96 in the semis, Lone Venom looked to have plenty up his sleeve given the manner of his victory on that occasion and the Michael O’Donovan-trained black delivered in bucket loads on Friday night as he dismantled a depleted four-dog field. Jointly owned by Darragh and William Keane, the choicely bred son of Droopys Sydney - Ballymac Pete was headed in the early exchanges by Serene Icon and the latter powered to the front on the run-up. However, Lone Venon was quickly back on terms passing the 300-yard box and he motored to the front as he stopped the third-bend sectional clock in a brisk 16.02. Drawing clear with every stride thereafter, ‘Venon’ never relented on the run for home as he crossed the line eight and a half lengths clear of Serene Icon in second. The time was an explosive 28.33.

MYDRAS QUICKEST IN KILSHEELAN UNRACED SEMIS

Mydras Opinion had to play second fiddle in the opening heats of the Kilsheelan Gallop ON2/3 525, however, Owen McKenna’s charge made no mistakes in round two as he ran out a very convincing winner.

Owned by Moira Costigan, Mydras Opinion was much sharper into stride this time around as his red jacket moved to a middle berth in the early stages to lead. In doing so, the October brindle powered clear down the back to clock a 16.21 sectional and the son of Deerjet Sydney - Mydras Dawn only got stronger as the race progressed. Crossing the line to win by an extending nine and a half lengths, the time was a rapid 28.62.

The opening semi was landed by Emers Cody as he made a plumb draw on the fence pay dividends for Emer Dunne. A strapping blue-fawn tracker, the son of Dromana Bucko and Emers Candy came under serious late pressure from Goldcash Warrior, however, ‘Emers’ turned the tables on his rival by holding on by a neck. The time was 29.28.

RACHEL IS ONE TO WATCH

Aside from the sweepstake action, there was a note-worthy performance in the curtain raiser as Sean O’Halloran’s Chasing Rachel produced a brilliant display in just her second outing.

Just a March 24’ puppy, Chasing Rachel got no run on debut, however, put a line through that performance with a devastating display of pace and power from the halfway mark. A well-made daughter of Grangeview Ten - Wise Eruption, ‘Rachel’ was only moderately into stride from one, however, barged her way around the opening bend to sit three lengths adrift of Marlfield Kai in second. Breezing alongside her rival on the approach to the penultimate bend, Chasing Rachel quickly powered to the front and from there, she bound clear to win by eight lengths. The time for the up-and-coming youngster was a fast 28.90.