UNREAL, SETANTA AND SANCTUARY SCORE IN LAURELS SEMI-FINALS
Barry Drake
The semi-finals of the BAR 1 Betting Irish Greyhound Laurels attracted a big crowd and some fantastic racing at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.
In the opening semi-final, it was all about Droopys Unreal (King Sheeran-Droopys Meteor) for trainer Ian Reilly and owners the Actingdamaggot Syndicate. Sent off the 4-5 favourite on track, the in-form tracker produced a great start from trap five, and he just had enough early speed to slip around in front of Microchip.
It all over in a matter of strides as he pulled five or six lengths clear. Magical Jet and Ballycowen Moon displayed massive speed from halfway, and they crossed the line together in second, with the judge unable to separate them.
They will re-run on Tuesday morning for a place in the Laurels decider, and the draw will take place after the trial. Back to the winner Droopys Unreal, it was another high-class performance, clocking 28.20 and winning in style.
Ballymac Setanta (6) (Ballymac Kingdom-Ballymac Art) was sent off the 2-1 second favourite in the second heat for Liam Dowling. After a poor start, he looked in serious trouble as Droopys Monk and Jaykay Fly battled it out heading into the opening corner, with Sure Exile right in behind.
It all changed when Droopys Monk took a step to the right, causing interference for both Jaykay Fly and Sure Exile, and it opened the door for the Ballymac runner. However, he did drive the gap along the inside of the track, and he went on to lead around the second corner.
From here, the outcome was never in any doubt as he went on to win, in 28.38. Sure Exile ran on well for second, seven lengths back.
Karol Rambottom was doubly represented in the third and final heat, and it was Slick Sanctuary (Droopys Sydney-Susie Sapphire), a 7-1 shot, who produced a flying start to make every yard of the running from trap four.
It was all pretty straightforward because once he slipped around the opening bends in front, he always looked in total control. Ballymac Kamala gave it a good go, but the winner was strong throughout. Two lengths the margin, in 28.20.
In the semi-finals of the Michael (Bart Leahy) Memorial A2 Stake, it was Lennies Jack (Signet Ace-Deelish Oreo) who was quickest on the clock, winning for owners Lee Craze and John Kennedy Jnr, with trainer Paul Hennessy.
The 2-1 winner came away racing from trap number two to win the all-important early lead. Opening up on the back straight, he raced five or six lengths clear of kennel-mate Early Home. That lead was reduced late on, with a three-length margin at the line, in 28.44. Three lengths back to Early Home in third.
In the second semi-final, Flyers Penney (Signet Ace-Pennylane Sheba) made all the running from trap number two for trainer Colm Fitzgerald and owners the Flyers Racing Syndicate.
Displaying massive speed to lead into the opening corners, the 3-1 winner showed lovely speed on the back straight. Ceekay Susie, who wasn't the quickest away along the rails, kept on well for second. A length and a half back to Happy Me in third, in 28.58.
Michael (Bart) Leahy Memorial Final Draw
1 Flyers Penney
2 Early Home
3 Happy Me
4 Half Yours
5 Ceekay Susie
6 Lennies Jack
Swords Robin, trained by Graham Holland for Barbara Lowndes, overcame a sluggish start from trap four and a bit of early crowding to win the opener, the first of two semi-finals in the Horgans Delicatessen Supplies, Mitchelstown. The well-backed 4-5 favourite looked in early trouble, but he displayed massive back straight speed to chase down Carmac Rian.
The March puppy produced a powerful finish to land the spoils, five lengths clear of the early leader, in 28.41.
The second semi-final produced another well-backed winner; this time it was Boomers Brother (1) (Newinn Taylor-Droopys Dream) who scored for local trainer Kieran Lynch and owners the Bate The Ditch Syndicate, Cloyne. Making the most of the inside line at the opening corner, the January puppy slipped around in front, and he was soon in prime position. The winner went on to score, in 28.68, two and a half lengths clear of the eye-catching Ballymac Cashin.
Silent Noelle (Newinn Taylor-Terezas Mendoza) went quickest on the clock in the semi-finals of the Barking Buzz App Open Bitch 525, winning for the Nolan-Mullins-Ahern-Syndicate. Long Siesta produced an explosive start to lead for the rails, but the odds-on favourite drove a fantastic opening corner to turn second around the opening corners. Flying down the back straight to lead, the classy performer took up the running before the second-to-last bend, and she went on to beat The Other Eimear, by three lengths, in 28.54. Half a length back to Long Siesta in third place.
In the opening semi-final, The Other Mel (2) (Grangeview Ten-Scooby Duchess) looked all over a winner for most of the way, but Millridge Cindy (1) (Ballyhimikin Jet-Millridge Dolly) produced a superb finish to join her on the line, and the judge was unable to separate them. A dead heat was called in 28.85. Half a length back to Cosmic Dancer in third place.
In the opening semi-final of the Irish Retired Trust A1, trainer Paul Hennessy enjoyed a 1-2 with Two Chimneys (Grangeview Ten-Me Penny) coming home in front for owner Paul Hynes. The 5-2 winner on track produced the quickest start to lead from trap three. Priceless Robbie was displaying all sorts of speed in behind, but the determined winner had all the answers, winning by a length and a half, in 28.53. Three-quarters of a length back to Clonavannny Bobby in third.
The second semi-final was all about The Other Wild (Ballymac Wild-Whitings Gift) for the kennel of Jennifer O'Donnell. Second choice of the punters in the ring on track, he was returned at odds of 9-2 off course. The impressive winner took a flyer from trap number five, and he delivered a superb front-running winning performance. Always in control, he came home five lengths clear of Callaway Katie, in 28.55. A neck back to Confident Huge in third place.
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