VENTRY FAITH GOES QUICKEST IN THE SEMI FINALS OF THE ERIC BROWNE MEMORIAL KINGDOM DERBY

Barry Drake

The semi-finals of the Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby produced some fantastic racing on Friday night and a lot of the fancied runners were knocked out of the €5,000 to the winner competition.

Ventry Faith, trained by Owen McKenna for Padraig O'Murchu, stayed on best of all to win the opening heat. Ballymac Finn set the early fractions up front, but the 7-1 winner delivered a big late run to land the spoils. A smart performance from Ventry Faith, clocking 28.34 and proving three-quarters of a length too strong for Ballymac Finn. Epic Ace stayed on to take third a length and a hald back.

A LOT HAPPENING
There was a lot happening in the second semi-final, Kerogue Lady was running a huge race up front, with favourite Daleroad Devon drawing alongside approaching the final corners. It looked like both were going to battle it out on the home straight, however, Devon carried Kerogue Lady off the track after turning right at the final bend and it opened the door for 12-1 outsider Jim By Two who took full advantage to win for Noel Griffin and Peter Kelly. A 28.83 winning run, a length and a half clear of Ballymac Briar with two and a half lengths back to Saleen Mateo in third place.