HOT SHOT LANDS DIVALL DECIDER AT LIFFORD

Peter Farrell

The final of the Diana Divall Memorial A3 525 served as the highlight on last night’s card at Lifford Greyhound Stadium and the €1,500 feature was landed in terrific style by Canya Hot Shot.

Kindly sponsored by Richard Colwell, this stake has proved very competitive from the outset and this was reflected in the betting market as Velvet Jenny was installed as the 7/4 favourite, with Canya Hot Shot next best at 2/1. Jointly owned by Dean Townsend and Gert Du-Plessis, Canya Hot Shot bounced back to form in the semi finals as she posted a slick 29.01 and she was to bring that good form into the night that mattered most.

After a swift exit in the semi finals, Canya Hot Shot needed to produce something similar and she did just that as she pinged the lids from trap four, posting a scarcely believable 2.48 opening sectional in the process. Showing a lovely turn of early speed thereafter, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Easy On rounded the opening turn with clear daylight over Velvet Jenny, who was searching for a third straight victory in second. Holding a three length advantage down the back, Canya Hot Shot already looked home and hosed as she is more than competent over the four-bend trip, however, Velvet Jenny was making inroads on her rival on the approach to the penultimate turn. As a result, this was to serve up a fascinating final fifty yards. Cutting the nose off Velvet Jenny at the third turn, Canya Hot Shot pulled out extra between the bottom two bends and although chased hard by Velvet Jenny, who was forced to switch lanes in the closing yards, she hung on gamely to win by one length. The time was 29.18.

DENOS TOO GOOD IN PMCC DECIDER

Elsewhere on the card, the supporting race came in the form of the PMCC & Friends ON2/ON3 525, which was landed in comfortable style by Denos Bay.

Boasting a brilliant €1,000 for just the two runs, Denos Bay posted the quickest semi final time and as a result, the Sean Harrison-owned November whelp was installed as the 6/4 favourite to land the spoils. In truth, this contest was all over at traprise. Breaking smartly from a plumb draw in three, the Dean McComb-trained puppy steered a wide course on route to the opener but emerged a one and a half length leader over Glory Bono, who recovered well from another poor start to emerge second. Not too much between the duo down the back, Denos Bay was to draw clear from the penultimate bend onwards as he displayed the superior stamina to emerge a most comfortable winner. Over five lengths clear crossing the line, the time was a fast 29.07. Many thanks are extended to Peter McCafferty for his generous sponsorship of the event.