MAGNIFICENT PERFORMANCE FROM ARDRATH BENNY IN YOUGHAL

Barry Drake

ARDRATH BENNY, trained by John Kiely for Richenda Kelly, Youghal, recorded a magnificent 28.97 when winning Youghal's feature race on Monday night, the Greyhound Make Great Pets A0-A1 525.

Sent to traps at odds of 7-2 for the seventh of the night, the May puppy showed a nice injection of pace to turn second around the opening corners. Canvas Sam was taking them along up front, but the winner, a strong runner, was soon on terms. Kicking clear from halfway, the exciting talent put on a strong finish to beat the fast-finishing Rapid Jack. At the line, five lengths separated the front two.

The progressive Slaneyside Boy, for Derek Kehoe, Thurles, brought his winning tally to two wins from just four career outings in race three. Slipping clear around the opening turns, the 10-3 winner set a scorching gallop upfront. Seaviewblackjack was the closing the winner down in the closing stages, but the line came in time for the July puppy. A length the difference, in 29.22. (A3).

Slaneyside Twink made it two on the night for Derek Kehoe when the 7-4 joint-favourite made all the running to win race eight, an A7, in 30.10.