IMPRESSIVE ILNOTBEBACK STANDOUT PERFORMER IN OPENING ROUND OF THE CORK OAKS

Barry Drake

ILNOTBEBACK was quickest on the clock in the opening round of the Cork Oaks at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

Trained by Paul Hennessy for Sean Adams, the 7-4 market leader rocketed from traps and the big early pacer easily led around the opening turns. Soon clear, the impressive runner pilled on the pressure throughout, running out a most convincing winner, seven lengths clear of Pennylane Sheba, in 28.60, which was the standout run on a slow running track. Deelish Lucia was two lengths behind the runner up in third.

PLENTY OF PACE

Cielo, trained by Owen McKenna for the Auld-Creator-Syndicate, got the better of hot favourite Droopys Next One in the fourth and final heat.

In front before the opening corner, the 5-4 favourite showed plenty of pace at the head of affairs. Droopys Next One was giving it a big go in the closing stages, but the one in front had all the answers. A length and a half the difference, in 28.86, with the same distance back to Millbank Chosen in third place.

IN THE OPENING HEAT

In the opening heat, Good Diva put on a fine performance to win for Maria Kennedy.

Ordinary away, the 4-1 shot displayed exceptional back straight pace to take up the running before the final corner. Railing well up the home straight, the impressive winner pulled clear to beat Bounard Han, by five lengths, in 28.93. A short head back to the early leader Clona Skye in third.

DRAMATIC FINISH

In heat three, Billy Dalton's Nomore Drama just held the fast-finishing Benalmadena Roxy by a head in a dramatic finish.

Despite taking an early bump, the 4-1 winner showed exceptional early gears to pull a couple of lengths clear into the third turn. Coming back to the field on the home straight, the line just came in time for Nomore Drama. Four lengths behind the runner up in third was Billys Diva. The winning time was 29.03.