VAL TASHADELEK DELIVERS A STRONG PERFORMANCE IN THE KINGDOM FEATURE

Barry Drake

VAL TASHADELEK, for trainer Neilus O'Donnell and owner Thomas Lynch, delivered a strong performance to win the €3,000 to the winner Friends Of University Hospital Kerry Final on Friday night.

Making the most of the inside line to turn third around the opening corners, the 2-1 joint favourite displayed plenty of pace on the back straight. Hitting the front from Millridge Bobby before the third corner, the October puppy was then forced to pull out all the stops to hold the unlucky in running and fast-finishing Hunters Angel, by a neck, in a lively, 28.48. Both the front two will be winning plenty of races going forward.

ALL-IMPORTANT EARLY LEAD

Badly Behaving (Ballymac Cashout-Ballymac Cams) came home in front to win the €550 Kingdom Stadium Unraced Final.

Trained by Jack Kennelly for owners the St Patricks Valencia Crew Syndicate, the October puppy, a 3-1 shot, won the all-important early lead and from the front, the bright prospect showed plenty of pace. A fine 28.55 winning run, a length clear of An Maistir, who caught the eye in second. Slipalong Duke, a 28.23 winner debut, was another to show plenty of speed after a missed break and some trouble in running. He was just a neck behind the runner up in third place.

Pictured With the Friends of UHK, 2024 Kerry Rose Eimear Dineen making the winning presentation to owner Thomas Lynch and trainer Neilus O'Connell following Val Tashadelek's win in the 2024 Hospital Sweep Final at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium