TWO GREAT BATTLES IN THE SEMI FINALS OF THE JOHN FITZGERALD MEMORIAL

Barry Drake

The semi-finals of the €3,250 to the winner John Fitzgerald Memorial A1 550 took centre stage at Kilcohan Park on Saturday night.

Called in from the reserves and following up from a win just two days earlier, Risk It Blue was quickest on the clock when winning for Patrick O'Neill and Jack Molloy Snr.

A big price in the betting ring, the 5-1 shot wasn't the quickest away, but he showed a lovely dash of early pace to turn second behind the front-running Captain Garfio. In front soon after the second corner, Risk It Blue went on to deliver a really likeable performance, coming home with four and a half lengths to spare over Minor Droopy, with a further half a length back to the early leader Captain Garfio, in 30.11. 

A JACK MOLLOY SNR DOUBLE

Lough Mistoki was just one spot slower when winning the second semi final for Jack Molloy Snr. Another big priced winner, the 6-1 outsider produced a flying start to win the early lead. Ballydorgan Duke hit the front on the back straight and in a ding dong battle in the closing stages, Lough Mistoki then pulled out all the stops to get the verdict, by a length, in 30.12. Two lengths back to Granard Thunder in third place.

DRAW FOR NEXT WEEK'S FINAL

1 CAPTAIN GARFIO

2 LOUGH MISTOKI

3 MINOR DROOPY

4 GRANARD THUNDER

5 RISK IT BLUE

6 BALLYDORGAN DUKE