SHERLOCK SETS LEGER PACE AT ENNISCORTHY

Ian Fortune

Dysert Sherlock set a strong standard in the opening round of the Michael Donohoe Memorial Leger at Enniscorthy on Thursday evening, leading off the second turn to record a rapid 28.72.

The Nicky turned trained son of Ballymac Best and Cherry Lane was second into the turn behind Brand Dispute but ran a tremendous bend to round his rival at the second bend. Once going to the front, the Global Racing Syndicate owned tracker maintained a strong gallop throughout to emerge a comfortable two length winner over Brand Dispute.

LIBERTY HOLDS ON

Liberty Miss went just a length slower in the previous heat, winning in remarkably similar fashion to Dysert Sherlock.

Ballymac Darcia led the field into the turn but Denis Lennon’s Liberty Miss took over as they hit the second turn before building a decisive advantage.

The leader, a daughter of Good News and Luminous Fancy, did tie up in the closing yards but held a rallying Ballymac Darcia by a short head in 28.79.  

ALLY TOO STRONG

Johnny Donohoe and Garry Dempsey would have taken great satisfaction out of the success of Coolavanny Ally in the final heat.

Only fourth into the turn, the daughter of Ballymac Best and Coolavanny Royce stayed tight to the fence to move second as they entered the back straight.

Picture Parade remained up to five lengths clear but she faded badly in the closing yards, perhaps cramping. In contrast, Coolavanny Ally was strong at the finish and she came through to score by two lengths from Marlfield Trent in 28.91.

MONAGATE LEAVES IT LATE

The opening heat of the round saw Monagate (Pat C Sabbath/ Lemon Juliet) get up in the final stride to score by the minimum margin.

Darbys Stroke set the pace for much of the way only to be headed by Glideaway Spiral around the last two bends.

Monagate, owned by the Monagate Syndicate, was now advancing. After losing his position early in the back straight, he began to motor as they hit the third turn before charging up the straight to collar Glideaway Spiral on the line in 29.01.

PET POUNCES IN TRI-DISTANCE

Elsewhere on the card, Mikeys Pet claimed the final of the A3 Tri Distance, flashing from traps to turn relatively close before staying on strongly to emerge a length scorer over Foxmount Lough.

Michael Whelan’s daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Borna Central went on to stop the clock in 31.72.