BLAKE BACK TO HIS BEST IN FITZWILLIAM DECIDER AT LIFFORD

Peter Farrell

The final of the Fitzwilliam A1/A2 525 was the highlight of Sunday night’s card at Lifford Stadium and Wilms Blake returned to something like his best form with a routine victory for owner Tom Caughey.

With €600 the prize on offer, this was a very open feature and opinion was split heading into the decider with each of the five finalists boasting strong claims of landing the spoils. Boherna Rio was installed as the 5/4 favourite, however, this was based on prior exploits stretching back to early June with the leading North-West performer failing to raise a flag in recent outings. Instead, it was Wilms Blake, who had some stunning four-bend form around Dundalk in the past (28.32), that returned to something like his best to put this contest to bed in fairly straightforward fashion.

After breaking smartly one week prior to land his semi final contest, Tom Caughey’s tracker was once again paw-perfect at traprise as he blitzed the field early on to post a rapid 2.58 sectional. As trouble ensued in behind for numerous runners, the son of Laughil Blake and Mags Chaparral skipped clear into the back straight and was followed by the Vera Croarkin duo of Tahina Blue and Tahina Ice Man. Showing fine speed down the back, Wilms Blake continued to dictate on the approach to the penultimate bend and the chasing duo made little inroads into the leader as he rounded the bottom two bends with two lengths in hand. Maintaining a relentless gallop once he straightened up, Wilms Blake crossed the line two lengths clear of Tahina Blue as he stopped the clock in 28.96, which was a really impressive run on a track which was far from flying.

IN OTHER RACES

The opening race of the night resulted in a superb victory for Quivers Shadow, owned by Benny Trainor of Monaghan. Just a February 22’ whelp, she rocketed from trap five and manufactured an already unassailable lead approaching the opening turn. Not breaking stride rounding the bottom two bends, the daughter of Out Of Range and Quivers Mona maintained a powerful gallop all the way home as she emerged a two and a half length winner over Lynseys Maddog in second. The time was a brilliant 17.67.

In race two, it was a case of lucky thirteen for Dunham Oliver as he went one better than his second place finish behind the in-form Cricket Pitch one week prior. Owned by Michael Farrell, he flashed from trap five to lead Phyllis Choice into the opening turn. Nip and tuck entering the back straight, Dunham Oliver showed a lovely turn of speed to take control entering the penultimate bend and despite the best intentions of Xhaka, who was staying on well in second, the son of Droopys Cain and Meenagh Midget prevailed by one length. The time was 29.28.

Jeannie Jo made it back-to-back wins in race three as she justified her 5/4 price tag. Owned by George McStravick, the daughter of Gurteen Feather and Endova Spirit was as usual reliable into stride as she outpaced her rivals to the opening turn. Running a fine first bend, Jeannie Jo held on gamely to deny the fast finishing Ardnasool Duffy in second. Just a half length between the duo, the time was 17.69.

Breaghmore Mike (Skywalker Logan - Eileens Blue) was having his first start at Lifford but made it a winning one for Charles Coyle of Derry. Plying his trade at Galway previously, the 4/1 chance came away well from trap six and swooped the opening bend to take charge entering the back. A stout stayer, he did come under late pressure from Mattys Boy but held firm to score by three parts of a length, in a time of 29.23.

There was a stunning performance in race five as Moss Row Jemmy bounced back to winning ways for Seamus Nugent. A big 5/1 chance in the market, the strapping black was led into the bend by Robbie Be Good but ran a superb bend to take control narrowly from Newline Blake in second. Staying on strongly up the hill, the son of Droopys Cain and Equally Fast crossed the line with one length to spare over Newline Blake as he stopped the clock in a rapid 17.46.

Laurence McHugh made the journey to Lifford worthwhile in race six as Shrewd Location took charge late on to win for the first time in four starts. Owned by Ronan McHugh, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Shrew Clover was a 4/1 chance before the off and had plenty on his plate as Rossmore Sparky led early doors. However, the young tracker joined the favourite on the back straight and outpaced his rival to take control entering the third bend. Holding off the flying Cricket Pitch in the closing stages, Shrewd Location sealed a deserving win as he emerged a short-head winner, in a time of 29.04.

In the concluding race of the night, Drumdoit Pippa sent the bookies home happy as Rebecca Porter’s bitch won at huge odds of 8/1. A bitch with some fine form in her book, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Our Pebbles, trained by Alan Byrne, showed an abundance of stamina as she drew clear of her rivals off the final turn to win by an extending seven lengths. The time was a slick 29.00.