SETANTA EQUALS THE TRACK RECORD FOR TEAM BALLYMAC IN THE QUARTER FINALS OF THE LAURELS
Barry Drake
BALLYMAC SETANTA, for the kennel of Liam Dowling, was the star performer in Curraheen Park on Saturday night, as the 4-5 favourite made it three straight wins and the January puppy clocked an outstanding 27.81, which equaled the track record set by Ilnotbeback back in 2022.
It was a real race to the opening corner, and it was Solo And Go who broke in front; however, the impressive winner was showing real pace to the corner, and with the advantage of the inside, he just slipped around in front. A length and a bit the margin throughout the back straight, Ballymac Setanta pulled away on the home straight, powering home to win, by four lengths. Six lengths back to Prince Naseem in third place. (Pic right: Ronan O’Connor pictured with Ballymac Setanta after his track record equalling winning performance.)
It was a quick double for Liam Dowling after Ballymac Brandan delivered a fine front-running winning performance in the second heat. The 5-2 shot displayed lovely early speed to just lead around from Unanimous Leo, and from there, he always looked good up front. A litter brother to Setanta, Brandan kept on well to beat Leo, by two lengths, in 28.23. Seven and a half lengths back to Trions Tribe in third place.
In the opening heat, Droopys Patriot, trained by Robert Gleeson for owners the Newmarket Racing Syndicate, drove a brave opening corner to lead around from Faypoint Harvey. Kicking for home on the back straight, the 4-7 favourite quickly opened up a healthy advantage, and from there, punters who took short odds never had a moment's worry. It's now three straight wins, in 28.28, five and a half lengths clear of Faypoint Harvey, with a short head back to Made To Measure.
Magical On Fire, for Patrick Guilfoyle, was another to dip under the 28-second barrier when delivering a superb performance in the closing heat. The powerful running tracker led early, so in truth, it was game over. Showing bundles of speed up front, the even-money winner pulled right away to beat Lemon Joey, by three and a half lengths, in 27.89. Two and a half lengths to Blastoff Heffo in third place.
BAR ONE RACING IRISH GREYHOUND LAURELS SEMI FINALS
1st Semi Final
1 DROOPYS PATRIOT
2 TRIONAS TRIBE
3 BLASTOFF HEFFO
4 BALLYMAC SETANTA
5 MADE TO MEASURE
6 MAGICAL ON FIRE
2nd Semi Final
1 UNANIMOUS LEO
2 PRINCE NASEEM
3 FAYPOINT HARVEY
4 SOLO AND GO
5 BALLYMAC BRANDAN
6 LEMON JOEY
******
Low Profile displayed plenty of speed and power to come from at least six lengths back and win the opening heat in the second round of the Michael (Bart Leahy) Memorial A2 Stake. Trained by Graham Holland for owners the R T And C Syndicate, the 2-5 favourite was forced to dig deep and pull out all the stops to land the spoils. De Bull was showing top-class early speed up front, but the October puppy got the verdict, winning by a head, in 28.28.
The Other Aari, for trainer Jennifer O'Donnell, rates one of the hottest prospects in the world of greyhound racing after the January puppy delivered a performance of the very highest order in heat two. Clocking sensational early sectionals, the 6-4 second choice of the punters came away racing, posting a top-class 3.23 sectional, followed by an incredible 15.81 third bend run. Lennies Tank, another hugely exciting tracker, was at least six back at halfway; however, he was keeping on strongly, and at the winning line, just a length separated them both. Both the front two have huge futures ahead. A stunning 28.10 winning run.
Trainer Dean Harpur can do little wrong at the moment, and he took the third heat with Ballycowen Robyn. The 10-1 outsider was in the mix heading down the back straight, and in a blanket finish, she flew home to beat Burgess Hazel, by half a length in 28.53.
In the fourth and final heat, Beanos Yank, trained by Graham Holland for the Pubs and Pints Syndicate, impressed when winning in style. The 1-2 favourite displayed plenty of back straight speed, and once he hit the front, he pulled away to win in style. A 28.53 winning run, with Coolavanny Malie also running well in second, a length and a half back.