BALLYMAC SETANTA AND DROOPYS PATRIOT STAR IN THE OPENING ROUND OF THE LAURELS

Barry Drake

The opening round of the Laurels had it all. A huge crowd and two magical sub-28-second winning performances.

The Dowling kennels enjoyed a fantastic double, and all the talk was about the top-class winning run of Ballymac Setanta in heat eight. The 4-5 favourite wasn't the quickest away; however, he flew into the opening corners and quickly took up the running. Powering down the back straight, it was clear he was on for a big run. Strong to the winning line, the impressive winner clocked 27.94, the quickest run of the night, and four lengths clear of the running-on Born To Perform. (Pic right) Alan Bonn pictured with Ballymac Setanta

Ballymac Brandan caught the eye, winning the seventh heat for trainer Liam Dowling. The 7-2 shot was in front early, and he was brave up front, showing real pace and power to deny Lemon Joey. Little between them on the turns for home, the Ballymac runner had all the answers up front. A neck the margin, in 28.31.

Trained by Robert Gleeson for the Newmarket Racing Syndicate, Droopys Patriot was back to his brilliant best in the fifth. The 5-2 winner got the better of Unanimous Leo in a fantastic race to the opening corner, and the classy performer was flying down the back straight. Galloping strongly to the winning line, Droopys Patriot clocked a sensational 27.99, three lengths clear of Unanimous Leo in second place. (Pic right) Robert Gleeson pictured with Droopys Patriot 

Solo And Go was a short-priced favourite for heat nine, but he was in early trouble, and it was Priceless Romeo who slipped around in front, and once he led, it was game over. Trained by Paul Hennessy for owners Bryan and Kathleen Murphy, the 6-4 second favourite pulled away on the back straight, and he clocked top-class finishing sectionals to win with plenty to spare. The puppy, Ballycowen Archy, ran very well in second, five and a half lengths back. Ante post favourite Solo And Go enjoyed a luckless run, but he qualified in fourth.

Sirius Alpha, trained by Kieran Lynch for owners the Sirius Syndicate, had plenty of supporters in the closing heat, and he didn't let them down as the super talented tracker delivered another high-class performance. The 2-1 winner displayed his usual big early speed to lead, and in truth, the outcome was never in any doubt. Staying on well up front, he beat Prince Naseem by two lengths, in 28.23.

A recent winner of the Empress Stakes at Towcester, Silverhill Freya got the job done in heat number 10. The 4-7 favourite, trained by Graham Holland for Eugene Buckley, was in front early, and she kept finding at the head of affairs. A 28.55 winning run, a neck clear of the fast finishing Aherla Rocco.

Trainer Jennifer O'Donnell enjoyed a great double. The well-backed Born Braver made no mistakes when winning the fourth. The 4-5 favourite showed a nice injection of speed to lead at the opening bends and from there, he always looked good. Da Tapper Flynn ran a big race in second, three lengths back, in 28.33.

On just her fourth career outing, The Other Mel delivered a smashing performance to complete the O'Donnell double. Owned by the Born Wild Syndicate, the 5-2 winner tracked beautifully to slip around the opening corners in front, and she went on to land the spoils, in 28.46, a length clear of Gortkelly John in second.

In superb form in recent times, Lemon Herbie took the third heat. Trained by Murt Leahy for the Factory 4 Syndicate, the 3-1 winner displayed stunning early speed to win the all-important early lead. From there, it was all plain sailing. A brilliant 28.31 winning run, four lengths clear of Boozed Burgess.

In the opening heat, Lamrock Ace, trained by Karol Ramsbottom for owners Brian and Michael Nash, pulled out all the stops to land the spoils. The 3-1 shot kept on well to deny Barefoot On Fire, by half a length, in 28.63.

Magical Keith just did enough to win the second heat for trainer Patrick Guilfoyle. Owned by S.G.Harvey, the 4-7 favourite just made the corner in front, in control heading down the back, the winner held on to beat the fast finishing Moorstown Knight, by a length, in 28.63.