LITTLE TO SEPARATE MARTIN FAHY MEMORIAL SEMI FINAL WINNERS

Peter Farrell

The semi finals of the Martin Fahy Memorial 525 featured at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and Barntick Midget went narrowly quickest for owner Mary Reidy.

Running in the second semi final, Barntick Midget was an impressive winner of her quarter final assignment as she led from the outset and the 2/1 chance was on-the-ball from traprise once again as she stepped away lively from her trap two berth. Chased into the back by the unbeaten Confused Kiely, the daughter of Droopys Sydney - Barntick Smokey was in no mood to surrender her slender advantage as the greyhounds rounded the penultimate bend. Showing fine determination up the hill, ‘Midget’ pulled out all the stops to see off Confused Kiely by one and three parts of a length, while it was a further two lengths back to Hollywell Sky in third. The time was 29.51 .20s

JUST LATTE

In the opening semi, On The Latte finished with a wet sail to get the verdict for owner Gerry O’Donoghue.

A consistent performer, who has tasted victory on eight occasions, On The Latte disputed favouritism in this contest with Bayview Wild at odds of 7/4 and it was latter that set the pace with a quick exit from one. Holding a slender advantage over Cricket Box entering the back, there were two lengths separating four runners at the halfway mark. However, the complexion of the race changed at this point as both Bayview Wild and On The Latte shot clear of the reminder and the duo battled it out for supremacy thereafter. Although ‘Bayview’ stayed on strongly in the closing stages, On The Latte was equally as powerful and it was O’Donoghue’s charge that got the nod crossing the line. Just a head to separate the pair, Lodge Road sealed the final qualifying position in a time of 29.54 .20s.

ALVA LANDS HORAN FEATURE

Elsewhere on the card, the final of The Horan Family Syndicate S7-S10 350 saw Alva Chase justify 2/1 favoritism for Declan McDonagh and Gerard & Declan Lillas.

Alva Chase was hoping to overturn a third-place finish in the semis but she was headed at traprise by the fast-starting Lose No Time in trap three. At this point, Alva Chase sat a close second and made her move around the bottom bend to go neck and neck with the leader. The inside line proving crucial at this point, the daughter of Jaytee Taylor - Luna Rocket soared up the home straight thereafter and she crossed the line one length clear of Lose No Time to land the €700 first prize. The time was 19.81 .10s

MOANA BOOKS DERBY TICKET

The small matter of an Irish Derby ticket was also on offer in race five and Brickhill Moana made it back-to-back wins as she made every inch to score.

Jointly owned by Albert Long and John Collins, Brickhill Moana was sent off 5/2 in the market and she made her intentions clear with a swift exit from trap two to lead. Drifting to a middle berth, the daughter of Ballymac Bolger - Twentylittletoes took a two and a half length into the back over the fancied Tiermana Hunter, however, the latter made no impact into the lead as ‘Moana’ powered to a most convincing win for connections. On what was a rain-soaked track, Brickhill Moana soared to a five and a half length victory in a fast 30.31 .20s.