LOCAL SUCCESS AS DROOPYS ROCKER WINS THE DENIS LINEHAN SOLICITORS UNRACED

Barry Drake

Local Blarney trainer Johnny Linehan landed the big one at Curraheen Park on Saturday night as Droopys Rocker (Loughteen Blanco-Droopys Isabella) put on a superb performance to win the final of the €4,500 Denis Linehan Solicitors Unraced stake for owners Pat and Sean Hegarty.

Sent off the well-backed 6-4 market leader, despite a little coming together with Ballymac Joey early on, the August puppy still managed to lead around the opening turns. Once he won the early battle, it was always going to take something special to reel him in. Strong throughout, he was always in total control despite the great efforts of the runner-up Bockos Crystal. Two lengths between the front two, in 28.27, with a further two lengths back to Romeo Command in third.

A KIERAN LYNCH TREBLE

Tracton trainer Kieran Lynch continued his great run of recent form with another brilliant treble.

In the 11th, an A0, Bartlemy Jas followed up last week's success with another outstanding front-running winning performance for owner Liam Mannix. A 28.49 winning run from the even-money jolly.

It all started in the sixth for Kieran Lynch as Butterbridge Ivy landed the spoils for owner Diarmuid Lynch. The July puppy got off the mark for the first time in outing number three, clocking 28.79 in the A2 contest, winning at odds of 3-1.

The night ended with a Kieran Lynch treble as Rockybay Rusty sent punters home happy when scoring at odds of even money for owner Chrissie Slyne. After turning on the pace, the writing was then on the wall. A strong running winning performance from the 5-4 market leader to score, in 28.53. (A1).

IN OTHER RACES

The open bitch race came in the tenth and it was a 1-2 for trainer Liam Dowling. Ballymac Snazzy drove a great opening corner and she went on to beat Ballymac Art. The 6-4 market leader got the verdict by a length and a half, in 28.42.

In the third, Rewind Rafael (Ballymac Best-Break The Habit) made an encouraging start to his racing career as the even money shot made a winning sprinting debut. Owned by Denis O'Neill and Michael Harty, the January puppy stopped the clock in a decent 17.73.

In the A7-A8 final, Slaneyside Foe won by a country mile for the Thurles kennel of Derek Kehoe. Going clear early, the even money favourite took the €550 first prize in great style. A 28.79 winning performance.

Cheero ran out an easy winner of the D2/D3 750 for trainer Matthew Harte and owner the Commons-Seven-Syndicate. Proving a class apart, the 4-6 favourite had four lengths to spare over Ballycowen Luka, in 42.02.