EXILE WAS ELECTRIC IN RIVERSIDE KENNELS CHRISTMAS CUP OPENER

Peter Farrell

Darragh wasn’t the only one brewing up a storm on Friday night as Clonmel played host to some terrific performances in the opening round of the Riverside Kennels Munster Christmas Cup.

Boasting an eventual winner’s prize of €6,000, there were five opening round heats on offer and I'm An Exile produced a masterclass in the curtain raiser as she stopped the clock in a blistering 28.27. It was Swords Hero that went to traps as the 4/5 favourite in this contest but despite proving a major eye-catcher in defeat, there was nothing fortunate about the performance of I'm An Exile as she bolted from trap one to lead. Showing a fine turn of early speed, Andrew Lynch’s charge took a one and a half length lead into the back straight ahead of Drive On Bono in second and it was clear she was travelling based off of her 16.00 sectional to the penultimate bend. Swords Hero was making huge progress in behind after being left at traps and he improved into third rounding the bottom two bends, however, the bird had flown up top as the daughter of Burgess Bucks and Trusted Exile maintained a relentless gallop to score. Crossing the line to win by one and a half lengths from the staying-on Swords Hero in second, the time, as mentioned, was a brilliant 28.27.

HOLLAND DOUBLES UP IN OTHER HEATS

This stake is kindly sponsored by the Holland Family of Riverside Kennels and they accounted for a double in the heats as both Yorkie Ollie and Tempestade landed their respective contests.

First up was the fancied Yorkie Ollie as he showed another thread to his bow with an off-the-pace victory. Installed as the 4/5 favourite, Michael Hennessy and Adrian Sheils’ tracker came away well along with his rivals, however, was the meat in the sandwich somewhat at the opening bend as Ballybough Nutz took full advantage of his inside berth in one to slip around in front. Yorkie Ollie recovered well to go second down the back and he loomed alongside the leader rounding the bottom two bends. Upping the ante off the final turn, the son of Magical Bale and Outdoor Roller really stepped it up climbing the hill and he emerged an extending two and a half lengths clear of Ballybough Nutz in second. The time was 28.78.

The double was secured by Tempestade, who returned to Clonmel to carry on his unbeaten record at the Suirside venue. Larry Dunne’s tracker won an A3 stake in fabulous style back in September and although enduring a tough period since, he got back to winning ways as he justified his 5/4 price tag. Running from four, Tempestade was briefly headed by Springwood Fred, however, soon breezed past his rival in the early exchanges to take a healthy lead into the back. Setting a powerful gallop down the back, the son of Droopys Sydney and Rural Aloha was home and hosed barring incident thereafter as he proved too hot for his rivals in running out a four length victor. Vivaro Ceyian stuck to his task well to cross over in second and the time was a smart 28.86.

CONVINCING WIN FOR REBEL

In heat three, Haydeezrebel made it two wins from his last three starts for Raymond Moss and Tom O’Neill. A 28.55 winner around Cork in recent weeks, the son of Coolavanny Hoffa was sent to traps as the 9/4 favourite and he made no mistake at trap rise as he flew from red to immediately open a three length lead. Soaring to a 16.03 sectional, ‘Rebel’ was in full flow up top and after the chasing pack tangled in behind, there was never any danger of O’Neill’s charge being reeled in. Staying on stoutly to win by a comfortable four lengths, it was Knockroe Fern that came through for second as the clock returned a smart 28.74.

DAKOTA DRIVES ON

The remaining heat was landed by Dakota Drive (2/1) as he also ran out a most comfortable winner for owner William Esmonde. This chap won his last outing in a brisk 28.82 and he implemented similar tactics on this occasion as he trapped lively to lead from three. In doing so, he showed his now customary early speed to run away from his rivals down the back and he commanded a six length lead approaching the penultimate bend. Mustang Marydel emerged from the pack to go second, however, this was all about the winner as he romped to a five and a half length success, in a time of 28.78.