DRAMA IN ISLANDBRIDGE AS ALF GOES FASTEST

Ian Fortune

There was certainly drama at Shelbourne Park on Friday night with the opening round of the Islandbridge providing plenty to talk about.

It was no surprise to see Ballinakill Alf set a strong standard, while Whatever Next also impressed but the real talking point was the decision to void the opening heat after an unsatisfactory start with the traps seeming to open slightly early and slowly.  

 It means that the opening heat will be run again next Friday night with the semi-final and final pushed back a week.

For the record, Romeo Falco came home in front in the void contest, showing huge pace but, sadly, it counts for nothing. 

AWESOME ALF WINS AGAIN

Instead, Ballinakill Alf took the headlines for the right reasons, although he didn’t set the pace into the turn. Instead, Cree Jo Jo displayed plenty of his old dash to set a strong pace into and around the opening bend.

Ballinakill Alf was moderately into stride and was only third in the early yards but he flew into the bend to move second and had the inside line in his favour when it was needed as they swung for home.

Trained by Graham Holland for the Pillar Syndicate, the brilliant son of Pestana and Newinn Madam went to the front before containing the rallying Cree Jo Jo by a half length in a superb 18.47. Uncle Tom ran better than the bare form suggests a further three and a half lengths adrift in third. 

WHATEVER THE NEXT BIG SPRINTER?

The last of the three heats saw Whatever Next run out a tremendous winner for Barry Clancy and Patrick Losty. The lightly raced daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Laughil Anna was having just her fourth race but it was scarcely evident as she left some talented rivals in his dust.

Showing great immediate acceleration after a good start, she quickly put the result beyond doubt. Getup Me Son and Hawkfield Scar did all they could to stay on terms but Whatever Next meant business. Getup Me Son did stay on well but Whatever Next emerged a most impressive winner by a length and a half in 18.65. Getup Me Son, in second, had three lengths in hand on the staying on Romeo Taylor.

CHIME DOMINATES

There were also two finals up or decision on the card and Farneys Chime and Magical Sapphire won their respective assignments in very different fashion.

Laurence Jones’ Farneys Chime was dominant in the final of the Sporting Press A3 Dual Distance over 550yds. Flashing rom trap five, the son of Our Surprise and Speed Chime was never threatened as he raced clear throughout to eventually see off Voyage Stanley by four lengths in 30.06.

SAPPHIRE’S DETERMINED EFFORT

Fifteen minutes later, Magical Sapphire got up in the final strides to deny long-time leader Callaway Amen. The latter flew from the outside box to open a clear advantage but Magical Sapphire recovered well from s tardy start to jut slip around second.

While a number of lengths behind as they entered the back, Pat Guilfoyle’s unbeaten daughter of Grangeview Ten and Grangeview Mags began to close into the third turn before flying up the home straight to lead late for a half length verdict over Callaway Amen in 29.88. Her record now reads four wins from four starts.