IMPRESSIVE CAREER BEST FROM MICROCHIP IN TIME CORK CUP

Barry Drake

MICROCHIP (Droopys Sydney-Clona Skye) was the star of the show in round two of the TIME Greyhound Nutrition Cork Cup at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

Quickest into stride, the 5-2 shot took control early on, and the big early pacer flew around the opening corners in top gear. Soon clear of the pack, the race was over midway down the back straight. Maintaining a strong gallop throughout, Microchip came home clear of his rivals, clocking a career best 28.41 for Mary Clarke.

The improving Oaklands Coco ran a cracker in second, five lengths back in second place.

Maintaining a strong gallop throughout, Microchip came home clear of his rivals, clocking a career best 28.41 for Mary Clarke. The improving Oaklands Coco ran a cracker in second, five lengths back in second place.

In heat two, Daring Diamond looked all over a winner throughout; however, Made To Measure (Droopys Sydney-Singalong Sally), who is trained by Pat Norris for Mark Lowther, delivered a big late finish to deny the front-running runner-up. It never looked likely, but the 2-1 winner had all the answers on the home straight. Flying home, the winner recorded back-to-back winning performances, clocking 28.69, a head clear of the early paced runner-up.

In the opening heat, Curious Callie (The Other Kobe-Swift Magnetic) returned to winning ways for Pat Noonan. The 3-1 winner came away racing from the inside of the track, and she was displaying plenty of speed up front. Super Syd was catching the eye in second, running on well, and he got within half a length of the winner, in 28.84.

The semi-finals of the €5,000 to the winner event will take place next Saturday night.

Elsewhere on the card, the €1,000 to the winner Harrington & O'Donovan Memorial 550-yard final went the way of even-money favourite Sleedagh Charm (Ballymac Best-Ballycowen Lola). Trained by Dean Harpur for owner Kevin O'Gorman, the impressive winner enjoyed the long run to the corner, and once slipping around in front, it was soon game over. A 30.01 winning run, seven and a half lengths clear of Zan.

Droopys Apollo (Droopys Flytline-Droopys Meteor) beat a couple of high-class sorts to win the Open Sprint. Plenty held chances heading into the opening corner, but it was the 9-4 shot who led around. Trained by John Linehan for owners the Crossborder Six Syndicate, the impressive winner ran on strongly to the winning line, coming home two lengths clear of the De Bull, in 17.83.

Champion Trainer Graham Holland enjoyed a double on the night. Donishall Sam (Ballymac Bolger-Doolin Girls) displayed huge pace to win the fourth, an A0, in 28.63, at odds of 4-6, for Michael Edward Young. In the closing race, Gaytime Joachim (Roaming Turbo-Gaytime Derval) completed the Holland double when winning for Brendan O'Connell. The well-supported even-money took up the running soon after the opening corner, and the outcome was never in any doubt. A 31.31 winning run, three and a half lengths clear of Great Morning, who ran well in second.