SYD REMAINS THE KING OF DUNDALK AS IRISH SPRINT CUP STARTS

Ian Fortune

The Bar One Racing irish Sprint Cup got underway at Dundalk on Saturday night and there were, as you would expect many fine displays including a tremendous return to the scene of his greatest triumph for defending champion Broadstrand Syd.

Others to impress on the night included    but Broadstrand Syd is going to receive top billing throughout if he continues to impress for Johnny Linehan. 

SUPER SYD IS BACK

Broadstrand Syd was racing from two in Heat 4 and while he didn't fly from traps, he did show wonderful acceleration to go to the front long before the corner.

Lennies Tank did show huge pace in defeat but drifted wide off the second turn allowing Broadstrand Syd open a race-winning advantage. Despite the best efforts of Lennies Tank, who made up eye-catching ground on the run-in, Broadstrand Syd made a triumphant return to the sprinting ranks by two lengths in a rapid 20.77. Road Exile progressed in third, some six lengths behind Lennies Tank.  

PATRIOT DISPLAYS SERIOUS PACE

Droopys Patriot made an emphatic winning return in Heat 6.

The Juvenile Classic champion was making his two-bend debut but it was scarcely evident as he displayed awesome early speed to blow holes in his rivals to the turn. he may not have been particularly fluent on the corner, perhaps going too fast, allowing Highview Ben to close but once he turned for home he kicked again. Trained by Robert Gleeson for the Newmarket Racing Syndicate, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Alyssa powered on in the style of a greyhound with serious chances of going all the way in this classic. He would go on to beat Highview Ben by two and a half lengths in 20.88 with a promise of better to come. There was a long gap to Ballymac Ninjago in third. 

BRILLIANT BROWNE SHOWS HIS CLASS

Stonepark Browne confirmed his standing as one of the leading fancies for outright success when taking Heat 7 for Michael O’Donovan and Michael O’Dwyer.

The recent Treaty Cup winner gave a couple of his rivals a head start from trap three but he displayed massive pace into the turn to shoot between Ballymac Kamala and Drop The Bottle.

Once assuming control, the brilliant son of Malachi and Coolavanny Ella drove clear to eventually win by two and a half lengths in 20.94. Ballymac Kamala was second with Ballymac Setanta finishing another two and three quarters of a length away in third.

SIR DIPS UNDER 21

Dear Sir was the first greyhound in this year's competition to dip under the 21 second barrier and he so with a professional display of front-running in Heat 3.

Laurence Jones' talented son of Premier Fantasy and Dear Oh Dear may have edged off the fence after a fast start but he maintained his lead into the turn before kicking on. Staying on well, he saw off Second treasure by three and a quarter lengths in 20.96. Cushie The Best was another length and three quarters away in third. 

DUKE A BRIGHT PROSPECT

Martin Lanney and Michael Scanlan have a bright prospect in the form of Woodcliff Duke.

The young son of Ballymac Cashout and Sweet Pear was a tremendous winner of Heat 8, showing real professionalism. Breaking best of all, he made every inch to contain the always second Danikas Diamond by a length and a half in 21.02. Easter Cup champion Hopes Teddy was just three parts of a length away in third.

SUPERB DEBUT FROM BRANDAN

Ballymac Brandan made quite a start to his career in Heat 5.

Liam Dowling’s youngster broke smartly from five and led into the turn where he was joined by Belindas Laila. The pair bumped but Ballymac Brandan would lose just a little momentum to continue up front.

No More Fiftys ran on strongly to close on the leader but Ballymac Brandan held on to score by a half length in 21.13. Surprise Reunion also stayed on well to finish just a neck away in third. 

SOUTHWIND RUNS WILD

Southwind Wild took the final heat of the round for Pat Buckley and Bill Wood.

The son of Dorotas Wildcat and Mucky Harbour was always prominent, moving into the lead before the corner. Epic Ace missed the kick and found traffic at the turn when moving second, laving Southwind Wild further clear. He could go on to score by three and a quarter lengths in 21.13. Epic Ace would overcome his traffic problems to take second with another length and three parts to Valderrama in third.

A RED HOT FROST

Stefans Frost opened his account in the opening heat of the round, albeit in the style of a greyhound that may need further in the future.

Only third into the turn behind Sogna Ancora, he swung wide off the second turn before unleashing a thunderous finish. She Campbell's promising son of Coolavanny Hoffa and Calzaghe Jan powered past those in front to emerge a comfortable winner by a length and three quarters in 21.24. Sogna Ancora was second with another head to Healys Legacy in third. 

CASHOUT FLIES OUT

Some Cashout won the second heat in very different fashion.

Representing Barney Mooney and Martin Whyte, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Highview Magnet flashed from trap two to make every inch. he would go on to see off Boozed Burgess by four lengths in 21.20. Move Over Harry was best of the remainder a length further adrift.