DUNFORD TAKEOVER IN JOHN WHITE OPENER AT CLONMEL

Peter Farrell

The opening round heats of the John White Memorial 525 took place at Clonmel on Monday night and the first round belonged to Adam Dunford as he accounted for four of the six heat winners on the night.

Of the quartet, it was Blister Him Jim that went by far the quickest as he made every yard of the running to secure a third career victory. Jointly owned by Michael Egan and Michael Organ, the April pup was installed as the even money favourite and he meant business from the off with a rocket break from four to lead. In doing so, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Cloncunny Peecee set a blistering gallop to stop the third-bend sectional clock in a rapid 16.08. Maintaining that relentless gallop thereafter, ‘Jim’ stayed on strongly thereafter to comfortably cross the line seven lengths clear of Subtle Bossco in second. The time was a fast 28.81.

In heat three, the double for Adam Dunford was completed as Ballinakill Liam romped to victory at odds of 4/6. Owned by the MWD-Syndicate, ‘Liam’ was unbeaten coming into his contest and he maintained that unbeaten status in facile style. A son of Coolavanny Hoffa and Cunnigar Spice, ‘Liam’ broke moderately from his outside berth in six but immediately outpaced his rivals early on to shoot clear. In doing so, he quickly opened an unassailable lead over his rivals before staying on stoutly to win by eleven and a half lengths. The time was 29.09.

It was win number three on the night for Adam Dunford in heat four as First Light also justified strong favouritism (1/1). This win was a little tougher, however, as Jimmy Flynn and Noel Ryan’s runner was forced to pull out all the stops. Running from trap three, the daughter of Confident Rankin and Droopys Matilda broke well but was challenged by She Is Lovely passing the sprint boxes. The latter narrowly shaded it approaching the penultimate, however, the superior stamina and the inside line were decisive in this contest as First Light wrestled back control. Running on to record a one and a half length victory over the staying-on Windmill Lala, the time was 29.45.

The quartet of winners was sealed in the fifth heat of the night as Imokilly Roxanne ran out a comprehensive winner at odds of 4/7. Owned by Michael O’Driscoll, this lady won her last outing in good style around Youghal and she was very smartly into stride from two to lead. Thereafter, it was all one-way traffic for the daughter of Coolavanny Hoffa and Cunnigar Spice as she drew clear to record a six length victory over Send For You in second. The time was 29.21.

Prior to the Dunford takeover, there was an eye-catching run in the opening heat of the night by Paraic Campion’s Boozed Mac. A winner of his last start in a decent 29.14, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Road Queen was quickest into stride but had no answer to Croydon Bay early on. The latter set a fine gallop to the penultimate bend, however, ‘Mac’ was always on his coattails and showed huge stamina in the closing stages to emerge a comfortable winner. An extending two and a half lengths winner, the 2/1 favourite stopped the clock in a time of 28.99.

The remaining heat was landed by Glenbrook Bucko as she too justified his 5/4 favouritism. Trained by Cora Doyle for Gary Murphy, ‘Bucko’ emerged from a level start in five to show big early speed to sweep the opening bend in charge. Opening a healthy lead down the back, the daughter of Dromana Bucko and Flying Lola came under pressure from Boozed Akela late on, however, the damage was done early as she recorded a half length victory, in a time of 29.24.