BLADHMA AND BENSON TOO HOT IN KILKENNY’S BOYLESPORTS A3

Ian Fortune

Both Sliabh Bladhma and Twenty Benson were simply too good for their rivals in the heavy rain at Kilkenny on Friday night as both came home clear in their respective semi-finals of the BOYLE Sports A3 Bitch 525.

Sliabh Bladhma was sent to traps a 9-2 chance for the opening heat but she was simply too hot to handle, showing fine pace to dominate from the start. Droopy Melon went up in second but faded out of contention after failing to worry the leader.

Instead, Florican Heights came through for second but there was no stopping the leader. Trained by Liam Ramsbottom for Andrew Nevin, Sliabh Bladhma (Droopys Sydney/ Sliabh Liag) raced to a facile three and a half length victory in 29.53 (.50 slow). Volcano Vicky chased the pair home in third to qualify for next weekend’s decider.

BENSON A COMFORTABLE WINNER

Twenty Benson, owned by the Babe Magnets Syndicate, won the second heat in almost identical fashion.

She was challenged into the turn by Droopys Mags but forced her way to the front at that point before going on to justify odds-on favouritism.

The Michael Donnelly trained daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Long Kiwi eased on to win by three and a half lengths from Droopys Mags in 29.58 (.50 slow). Perfectionism was another length and a half away in third.

BOYLE Sports A3 Bitch 525

Final draw

1 VOLCANO VICKY

2 PERFECTIONISM

3 SLIABH BLADHMA

4 TWENTY BENSON

5 FLORICAN HIEIGHTS

6 DROOPY MAGS (M)