SETANTA AND JOEY POWER INTO LAURELS DECIDER

SETANTA AND JOEY POWER INTO LAURELS DECIDER

Barry Drake

BALLYMAC SETANTA once again set the standard in the Bar One Racing in association with the Friends & Supporters of Cork Greyhound Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels when the in-form tracker made it four wins on the bounce with his third sub-28-second winning performance for Liam Dowling.

The 5-4 second favourite produced a decent start, but it was his big pace to the opening corner which was key. Just making the bend in front, he slipped around from both Trionas Tribe and Magical On Fire. From here, it always looked game over. Favourite Droopys Patriot missed the kick, and he could never recover. Up front, it was all about Ballymac Senanta, and he delivered another sensational winning run. Galloping strongly to the line, the Ballymac runner came home three lengths clear of Magical On Fire, in 27.99, with the same distance back to Trionas Tribe in third place.

Lemon Joey came home in front in the second semi-final for trainer Murt Leahy and owners the Short Back And Sides Syndicate. All six were in the mix early, and it was a real race to the opening bend where Lemon Joey just slipped around in front on the outside from both Ballymac Brandan and Solo And Go. The 5-1 winner is always a tough nut to crack when leading, and Lemon Joey displayed his usual big speed at the head of affairs. Pulling away, he came home a fantastic winner, clocking 28.09, six lengths clear of Solo And Go, with a length back to Ballymac Brandan in third place.

Bar One Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels Final Draw

1 SOLO AND GO

2 BALLYMAC BRANDAN

3 BALLYMAC SETANTA

4 MAGICAL ON FIRE

5 TRIONAS TRIBE

6 LEMON JOEY (M)

******

The Other Eimear took the opening semi-final of the Michael (Bart) Leahy Memorial A2 Stake for trainer Jennifer O'Donnell. The improving February puppy produced a quick start, driving a great opening corner, the 4-1 shot slipped around in front for owners the Crack Is Mighty Syndicate. Lennies Tank was flying down the back, and it was nip and tuck up front; however, the winner had all the answers late on, staying on best to beat the favourite by two and a half lengths, in 28.47. Half a length back to Coolavanny Malie in third place.

In the second heat, Low Profile went quickest on the clock when winning for trainer Graham Holland and owners the R T And C Syndicate. The Other Aari kicked nicely clear down the back straight; however, the eye was always drawn to the strong running tracker who turned second around the inside of the track. Just like previous outings, Low Profile powered home and the 7-4 second favourite got the better of The Other Aari, by a length and a half, in 28.37.

Bart Leahy Memorial A2 Stake Final

1 COOLAVANNY MALIE

2 BURGESS HAZEL

3 THE OTHER AARI

4 LOW PROFILE

5 THE OTHER EIMEAR

6 LENNIES TANK (W)

******

In the opening heat of the Horgans Delicatessen Supplies, Mitchelstown Ltd ON1 Stake, it was Clan Sapphire (Droopys Sydney-Susie Sapphire) who scored for trainer Francis Murray and owner Howard Wallace. The 6-4 shot overcame trouble at the opening corner to win, in 28.71, seven lengths clear of Butterbridge Guv.

In the second heat, Droopys Graph (Droopys Sydney-Droopys Dancer) made a sensational winning debut for trainer John Linehan and owners the Three Tall Men Syndicate. The 5-2 winner produced a flying start, and the January puppy was soon in total control. Displaying huge speed throughout, the impressive winner got the better of Slippery Brian, by six and a half lengths, in 28.06.

In the third and final heat, Berlin Trilogy (Droopys Sydney-Ballymac Petsy) was another to make a top-class winning debut when scoring for Mark and Michael O'Donovan. The Fabuary puppy displayed bundles of early speed, and the exciting prospect was soon clear. A performance of the very highest order, clocking 28.12, three and a half lengths clear of the eye-catching Ballymac Iroko.

In the Knockeen Dazzler @ Stud Open Bitch Semi Final, Scarlet Ella displayed plenty of speed and power to win the opening heat for owners Alice Guilfoyle and Thomas Ryan. The Patrick Guilfoyle-trained runner flew down the back straight to lead, and the 5-4 winner came home five lengths clear of Steeple Rd Amber, in 28.13.

Desert Flower took the second semi-final for trainer Kieran Lynch and owners the Hold On To Your Hat Syndicate. Out the back early on, the 5-2 winner produced one of her usual flying finishes to land the spoils. On top in the final stride, the powerful running tracker got the better of Scrahan Lady, by a short head, in 28.56.

It was all about Glengar Martha in the closing heat for trainer Pat Buckley and owner William Wood. The 4-7 favourite was in control throughout and she ran out a brilliant winner, posting 28.17 and coming home five and a half lengths clear of Barnfield Molly.

Aghadown Flight (Pic below) landed the Happy 90th Birthday to John Barry Murphy for Niall Collins. The in-form tracker, a 3-1 shot, was recording back-to-back winning performances. In front early, the powerful running tracker was strong throughout, pulling out all the stops; she beat Rural Ana, by two and a half lengths, in 28.44.

Aghadown Flight for Niall Collins - winner of "The Happy 90th Birthday John Barry Murphy" Mini Open 525. John Barry Murphy pictured with friends and supporters makes the winning presentation.