JIGGER HAS ALL THE RIGHT MOVES
Barry Drake
THE improving BARNFIELD JIGGER (Glengar Bale-Ruffian Rose) set the standard in the opening round of the €2,000-to-the-winner Davy O'Brien Memorial at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.
Liam Murphy's impressive winner wasn't the quickest into stride from trap five, but he displayed lovely early gears to slip around in front. Opening up on the back straight, the August puppy quickly put the race to bed. Always in control, the 4-1 winner brought his form to another level, stopping the clock in a career-best 28.44. Ballysloe Max made late gains for second, three and a half lengths back.
Topside Rosie (Tommy Shelby-Drive On Shirley) made all the running from trap five to win the opening heat for Mike and Caroline Naughton. The September puppy has really hit top form, and the winner was recording back-to-back wins. The 4-1 shot delivered a fine front-running winning display, just doing enough to fend off Kind Tipp, by a head, in 28.90.
Heat two went the way of Peroni Turbo (Roaming Turbo-Butterbridge Ivy) for trainer Kieran Lynch and owners the Hold On To Your Hat Syndicate. Called in from the reserves, the September puppy, running from trap four, was near last early, as Burgess Bonnie was going along nicely up front.
The 3-1 winner was flying down the back straight, making big progress, and the improving winner delivered a big finish to score. A 28.81 winning display, half a length clear of Millridge Patsy.
Hollyhill Cassie (Serene Ace-Hollyhill Cassie) took the closing heat for trainer Paraic Campion and owner Ger Gubbins. The August puppy came away best from trap five, and the 3-1 shot led around the opening turns. In front throughout, the early paced winner held the running-on Carefree Captain, by half a length, in 29.33.
In the second, an A1, the exciting Enoch Bark (Ballymac Cashout-Ballyverry Sarah) recorded back-to-back wins for trainer Kieran Lynch and owners the Premier Rebel Lads Syndicate.
The November puppy looked good on debut; however, this was another most impressive display from a tricky draw, out in trap five. Moving in early, he drove a fantastic opening bend to lead along the inside. Soon a couple of lengths clear of Dromboy Fantasy, he just did enough in the closing stages, winning by half a length, in 28.53.
The closing race, the DK Accountancy Mini Open 525, went the way of Supa Mac (Mcinerney-Illnotbeback) for trainer Paul Hennessy and owner Paul Hynes.
The talented winner broke well from trap four, but it was Corrough Teddy who led around the opening turns. The one up front was setting strong early fractions, but the winner was always within touching distance in behind. Strongest late on, Supa Mac got the better of the early leader, by a head, in 28.47.