A ROANNA DOUBLE THE HIGHLIGHT OF DOYLE MEMORIAL AT ENNISCORTHY

Ian Fortune

Robbie O’Neill and Adrian Maher posted a superb double in the opening round of the John Doyle Memorial ON2 525 at Enniscorthy on Monday night with their Roanna Sheiler actually setting the standard as he came home a mile clear in a rapid 28.85.

The son of Ballymac Best and Groveshill View broke smartly and was soon clear of his rivals before easing right away to score by ten and a half lengths. Kereight Fathead was second. 

Roanna Hawk (Ballymac Best/ Roanna Bess) had earlier initiated the O’Neill/ Maher double in the third heat of the round. She was second into the turn but asserted at this point and eased away to beat Hard To Figure by six and a half lengths in 28.98.

The only other runner to dip under 29 seconds was the Fraser Black trained Gripwell Bridie. The daughter of Pat C Sabbath and Highview Lauren was always in charge from the inside box as he emerged a comfortable scorer over the staying on Silver Bow in 28.97.

Fraser Black later completed a double with her liter brother Gripwell Bridge. He too led early to score by a length and a half from Annagh Lily in 29.32.

Coolavanny Ally displayed plenty of promise in Heat 6 when storming home to emerge a ten length scorer for Garry Dempsey in 29.16. The well bred daughter of Ballymac Best and Coolavanny Royce missed the start but moved with real purpose to take over early in the back straight and it was all one-way traffic thereafter.

Annagh Fantasy (29.57), Piercestown Law (29.44) and Well May (29.75) won the remaining heats.