SHOCKS APLENTY IN GALWAY SEMIS

Peter Farrell

The semi finals of the €4,000 to the winner Galway A3/A4 525 served as the highlight on last night’s Galway card and both resulted in shock outcomes.

In the opening semi final, Ballygraigue Ten was sent off as the 1/2 favourite to return to winning ways after tasting defeat for the first time in his six-race career and while the consistent son of Grangeview Ten did cross in front, he had to settle for a dead-heat as 6/1 chance, Lissycasey Flor, crossed in tandem. At traprise, it was Crokers Burko who broke best but despite missing the kick badly from trap one, Ballygraigue Ten benefited from his rails pitch to nip up the inside and go two clear into the back straight. At this point, Thomas Bourke’s charge was setting a strong gallop and looked a certain winner with his rivals making little impact in behind. However, the favourite was running on empty in the final twenty-five yards and Lissycasey Flor (Ballymac Bolger - Arf Share Peggy) was in top gear in behind to storm around the outside and cross neck and neck with the favourite. The judge was called into action but the duo could not be separated and a dead-heat was called, in a time of 29.28 .10s.

JUST DAISEY

In the second semi final, Crafty Orlando was turned over at short odds of 1/2 as Eilleens Daisy (Skywalker Logan - Eileens Blue) just prevailed.

Crafty Orlando set the competition alight last weekend with his 28.84 .10s return but he completely fluffed his lines at traprise this time around as he fell from trap five to sit at the rear of the field early on. In contrast, Glynscross Liz enjoyed a lovely run up the inside and she led the field into the back straight from Crafty Orlando, who had displayed sensational early gears to get back into contention. That said, it was Eilleens Daisy who was showing all the speed down the back straight as she quickly ranged alongside both Glynscross Liz and Crafty Orlando, showing a really eye-catching turn of foot in the process. Owned by MJ Corrigan, Eilleens Daisy showed excellent determination to go between runners rounding the bottom two bends and although challenged up the home straight by Crafty Orlando, she was always holding her rival as she crossed the line to secure an 8/1 upset. Just a neck separating the pair, the time was identical to the first heat, 29.28 .10s.