QUALITY ACTION AT CLONMEL AS SWEEPSTAKES HOT UP AHEAD OF BUMPER WEEK

Peter Farrell

Clonmel hosted their second of three race meetings last night and there were no shortage of big performances as a number of sweepstakes hotted up.

The first sweepstake on the card was the Doolin Duke / Tullig Cyrname @ Stud A3 Tri-Distance 550 and the quickest of the three heats on offer was landed by Subtle Jill in heat two. Owned by David Adaway, the May 21’ daughter of Droopys Sydney and Trusted Exile was chasing a second career win and she made her intentions clear from an early stage with a slick exit from trap one. From here, Subtle Jill excelled into a comfortable lead and she proved a class above her rivals as she drew clear down the back, before maintaining a powerful gallop all the way home. Crossing the line with over ten lengths in hand over Callaway Links in second, the time for the 3/1 chance was a rapid 29.91 .10s.

In the other heats, Malvern Avenue landed the opener for Larry Elland, justifying his even money price tag. A seasoned performer, the May 19’ son of Droopys Jet and Stormy Pippa duly made it a hat-trick of wins as he came home five lengths clear of Billy Bones in second. The time was 30.31 .10s.

The third and final semi final was landed by the Paraic Campion-trained Chestnut King. A 3/1 shot at the off, the son of Good News and Redzer Ruby, jointly owned by Tony and Raymond Bennett missed the break early on but ran a mighty impressive race in picking through his rivals, before finishing at speed to score late on. One and a half lengths clear at the line, the time was 30.19 .10s.

FITZ SETS HIGH BAR

The semi finals of the Rural Kennels Consolation 525 was next on the agenda and these two contests produced huge quality with Salmic Fitz going fastest.

Trained by Pat Guilfoyle for Michael Heaney and Mick Fitzpatrick, Salmic Fitz hit the deck on his last outing at Limerick but bounced back in the most emphatic style last night at Clonmel. Running from trap four, the son of Slippy Cian and Roscrea Lilly broke well and showed superior early pace to lead early. Once doing so, Guilfoyle’s charge was always in control and he showed brilliant gears to gallop clear of his rivals, recording a nine and a half length success in the process. The time was a rapid 28.60 .10s.

The second semi was equally impressive as Borna Hero produced a strong finish to break his duck for Eileen Dwan. Noted for his staying power in his early races, Borna Hero again occupied the rear of the field early as Burgess Ozzie set the pace. However, Borna Hero was creeping into contention at the halfway mark and the heavyweight son of Dorotas Woo Hoo and Borna Central upped the ante turning for home. Finishing with real gusto, Borna Hero stormed past his rivals in the closing stages as he crossed the line with two lengths in hand over Burgess Ozzie in second. The time for the 2/1 favourite was 28.85 .10s.

FREEDOM SECURE CAMPION DOUBLE

The semi finals of the Hotel Minella A3 525 was next up in race seven and Paraic Campion sealed his double with Freedom Reader in the opener.

A 3/1 shot at the outset, Freedom Reader was searching for his third victory for the VHR syndicate but despite a decent break from six, he was forced to play second fiddle behind Coolanorans Best early on. The latter set the standard for the majority of the contest but Freedom Reader was nothing if not determined in behind. Wearing down the leader, the son of Magical Bale and Mustang Evita took over in the closing stages to seal a one and a half length victory, in a time of 29.06 .10s.

Fireball Mary was a joint 2/1 favourite of the second semi final and she made every inch of the running for John Murray and Michael Spillane. Running from trap one, the daughter of Cabra Firmino and Cabra Ebony made a slick exit and despite coming under late pressure from Goldmine Mono in second, she held firm to claim a neck victory over her rival. The time was 29.23 .10s.

BUCKS NARROWLY BEST

The last of the sweepstakes semis concluded the card and this was the O’Rourkes Quality Greyhound Meat A2 Dual Distance.

Of the two semis, it was Two Bucks who went narrowly fastest for Lar and Philip Walsh. A 4/1 chance, the daughter of Burgess Bucks and Starry Display sat third early doors but made big progress down the back, before taking charge at the penultimate turn. Staying on well thereafter, Two Bucks sealed a one length victory over Tarsna Soda as the clock returned 30.30 .10s.

The second semi final and the last race on the card was landed by Grenard Thunder, trained by Joe Anglim and owned jointly by John White and Tom Lambert. A huge tracker weighing in at 87-pounds, Grenard Thunder (Ballymac Best - Grenard Storm) came away best of all from trap three and this was the key factor as he proceeded to make every post a winner. Classic Chick went off the even money favourite and she kept the leader honest with a fast finish, however, Grenard Thunder held on to win by one length. The time was 30.39 .10s.