BAREFOOT IN ON FIRE IN BORN WARRIOR DECIDER AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

There was €3,000 up for grabs in the final of the Born Warrior @ Stud A1/A2 525 at Limerick Greyhound Stadium last night and it went the way of Barefoot On Fire as he produced a determined performance for Bryan and Kathleen Murphy.

After posting a red-hot 28.20 on debut at Curraheen Park, Barefoot On Fire quickly developed a huge reputation but it’s fair to say he endured a stop-start career ever since. However, after some six week’s off from the racing circuit, the Paul Hennessy-trained runner landed his opening round assignment in this stake and despite failing to raise a flag since, he ran an exceptional race on the night that mattered to land this valuable stake. Kindly sponsored by William O’Hanlon, it was Glengar Jasmine who was installed as the even money favourite and rightly so after a series of thoroughly professional displays for Limerick regular, Corona Ryan. Next best in the market was the equally impressive Crafty Supremo at 5/2 and it was 3/1 Barefoot ahead of traprise. Indeed, Glengar Jasmine broke swiftly from trap three but she found it tight for space on the run-up with the improving Crafty Supremo making fine ground in four, while Barefoot On Fire was also showing a nice turn of early speed from trap two. As a result, the jolly was shuffled back in the field and it was Crafty Supremo who quickly shot into a two length lead from Barefoot On Fire in second. The latter excelled down the back and was showing fine speed entering the penultimate bend, however, the son of Grangeview Ten was again forced to check, allowing Crafty Supremo to once again hold all the aces. This wasn’t to prevent the Hennessy runner from coming back for more however, and he stayed on with real intent to fly across the line and seal a one length victory over Crafty Supremo in second, with Canya Dream also making the podium back in third. The time was a good 28.71.

FIVE ALLEY SETS THE TALKING DOGS STANDARD

Elsewhere on the card, the opening round heats of the Talking Dogs A3/A4 600 got underway and the standard was set by Five Alley Star in the heat one.

Run over the testing 600-yard trip, this always proves a highly competitive event and it didn’t take long for the quality to shine through as Five Alley Star sealed a third straight win for owner Paul Hogan. Running from trap two, the classy black made her intentions clear from the outset as she pounced from traps to lead Marcianke into the opening turn. This was to prove the story of the contest thereafter as the daughter of Kinloch Brae and Vinnys Beauty maintained her decent advantage to cross the line with three and a lengths in hand over Marcianke in second. The time for the 2/1 shot was 32.80.

In the other two opening round heats, Lady Aston made every inch of the running for Michael Keating as she crossed the line with three lengths in hand over Rosshill News. The time for the daughter of Pestana and Rinnwood Pearl was 32.87, while in the final heat Luner Lestrange (Zero Ten - Skywalker Gail) sealed a brilliant fourteenth career win for David Flanagan. Running from trap two, this excellent servant also sealed a trap-to-line victory to win by four lengths, in a time of 33.08.