MARY SETS THE CES PACE AGAIN

Ian Fortune

Magical Mary once again set the standard in the second round of the RPGTV Irish Cesarewitch at Mullingar on Sunday afternoon.

Unlike seven days earlier when dominating from the early yards, the Pat Guilfoyle trained star was headed in the early yards by Pierno.

The latter displayed his trademark early speed to turn in front but was a sitting duck when Magical Mary turned a close second. Displaying all her pace into the third turn, Magical Mary took up the running from Pierno and the daughter of Droopys Jet and Mystical Moll, who is jointly owned by Pat and Alice Guilfoyle, proceeded to ease on for a comfortable, and most impressive, three and a half length success in 33.48. Bective Cherry was the best of the rest a further four lengths adrift.

A BONANZA FOR CRAFTY BACKERS

Crafty Bonanza, owned by the David, Gerry, Danny Syndicate, was next fastest of the four quarter final winners as he displayed a fine turn of early zip to dominate in Heat 3.

While those on the inside were battling for room, Crafty Bonanza flew into the turn to open a near four length advantage.

Gaston Pecas came through in the second half of the contest to grab second but the Martin Lanney trained Crafty Bonanza was never under any pressure and he emerged a comfortable three and a half length scorer in 33.68. Old Treasure was another length further back in third.

BEACH FINISHES WITH A FLOURISH

For the second week running Toolmaker Beach had to work hard for victory in the opening heat of the round.

Despite coming away on terms, the Robert Gleeson trained powerhouse found himself behind runners into the turn and was only fifth into the back straight behind the pace-setting Beaming Scarlet. 

Hellofaracket joined Beaming Scarlet to dispute the lead down the back straight but the latter was back in front by the third turn. By this point, Toolmaker Beach had started to close and was vying for third although he was forced to check slightly, leaving him fourth between the last two bends.

Still, Willie Hyslop’s powerful son of Droopys Jet and Kilara Lizzie advanced and, powering up the home straight, he went from fourth to first to claim a length verdict over Hellofaracket in 33.84. Beaming Scarlet ran out of steam to finish a head back in third. 

GLENDALOUGH PREVAILS

The final heat of the round saw a line of five greyhounds battling it out into the turn with Liam Kirley’s Glendalough somehow emerging in front.

The strong running son of Pat C Sabbath and Glenlee was always going to take some beating once gong to the front but Young Bud did give chase. 

The order of the front two never changed although both had to dig in as the pack began to close. Glendalough emerged a two length winner in 34.05, while Young Bud held the fast finishing Ballyard Taylor by a head to take second.

RPGTV IRISH CESAREWITCH

Semi-final draw

Heat 1

1 BECTIVE CHERRY

2 OLD TREASURE

3 TOOLMAKER BEACH

4 BALLYARD TAYLOR (M)

5 PIERNO (W)

6 YOUNG BUD (W)

Heat 2

1 MAGICAL MARY

2 BEAMING SCARLET

3 GASTON PECAS

4 GLENDALOUGH (M)

5 HELLOFARACKET (W)

6 CRAFTY BONANZA (W)