CHURCHTOWN SYD SETS THE STANDARD IN THE OPENING ROUND OF THE A1 KASKO DERBY

Barry Drake

Only 25 spots separated all eight heat winners in the opening round of the €6,000 to the winner A1 Kasko Derby at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

No stranger to big performances around the Cork circuit, Churchtown Syd went quickest in heat number seven, clocking 28.52 for trainer Denis Fitzgerald and owner Mick Crotty. The 2-1 shot turned four in April and he is still throwing out some top-class performances. 

Such a likable sort, the strong running tracker produced a flying start to lead and in truth, it was all one-way traffic up front. A superb effort, four and a half lengths clear of the Da Dapper Flynn.

Romeo Falco posted 28.56 when winning the closing heat for trainer Graham Holland and owner David Firmager. The 4-5 favourite displayed a nice touch of early speed and he ran out a three-length winner over Ballybawn Belle.

In the opening heat, Carrigoon West delivered a fine performance to score for Noel Casey. A strong all-round display to beat Dellser Bells, by two lengths, in 28.74, at odds of 5-4.

Bambis Lady returned to winning ways in the second heat for Breda Boyle and Patrick Sheehy. The 2-1 second favourite displayed plenty of all-round speed to beat Timmys Bucks, by a length, in 28.77.

Burgess Champ ran out an impressive winner of heat three for Sheila Spillane and JJ Fennelly. In front early, the 5-2 shot pulled clear to beat We Got This, by five and a half lengths, in 28.65.

In heat four, Ballycowen Jay ran out a smart winner for trainer Dean Harpur and owner Debbie Doyle. The July youngster got the better of Romeo Control, by five lengths, in 28.77, at odds of 3-1.

Standing Charge, trained by Kieran Lynch for Patrick Murphy, made it back-to-back wins in heat five, clocking a career best of 28.67 as the 5-2 shot got the better of Burgess Canon, by the shortest of margins.

Keplar Khufu was another to make it two straight wins, winning heat six for trainer Pat Kiely and owners the Whos Dogs That Syndicate. The 2-1 shot impressed with a 28.69 winning run, a length and a half clear of Move To Soon.

In the €1,000 to the winner Sean O'Leary Memorial Memorial A4/A5 Dual Distance Final, it was Broken Buttons who came home in front for Eamonn Morton and Terry Killick, the even-money favourite was always prominent and she pulled out all the stops in the closing stages to beat Annamore Rick, by half a length, in 30.54.