MAGS LAND PAUL MCKENNA MEMORIAL AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

There was €1,200 up for grabs in the final of the Paul McKenna Memorial 525 at Galway on Friday night and Sober Mags made it back-to-back wins with another off-the-pace performance.

Trained by David Flanagan for the New-Gang-Syndicate, Sober Mags has really found her feet at Galway in recent weeks and after posting a superb 28.91 .10s from off-the-pace last weekend, she came into the decider as the 6/4 to overcome a potentially tricky draw in the stripes. Well away from six, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Mags Angel stalked Killballyowen Boy early on, however, the result, much like last week, was inevitable. Once again showing her superior staying power at the halfway mark, Sober Mags struck the front entering the penultimate turn and she was to draw clear thereafter, crossing the line a near five length winner over the gallant Killballyowen Boy in second. The time, given the cold conditions, was a rapid 28.98 .10s.

DROMBEG TRIO

Elsewhere on the card, there was to be a treble for the ‘Drombeg’ kennel and the first of the winner’s came in the novice 525 as Drombeg Bear (Grangeview Ten - Blastoff Kat) made a winning start to his racing career.

A 2/1 chance, Drombeg Bear, owned by Evan McAuliffe, hit the front early from trap one and he made every yard to see off the fast finishing, Hot Wood, in second, A neck better off, the time was 29.92 .10s.

In race nine, Drombeg Rio also came out the right side of a photo finish as he too recorded a neck victory. Running from one, the son of Grangeview Ten and Grangeview Nifty chased Derra Dolly for the majority of the contest but he overcame a two length deficit to get the nod, on the line, by a neck. The time was a fast 29.17 .10s.

The treble was complete in the very next race and it was another winner for Grangeview Ten as Drombeg Apollo won comfortably. A 5/2 market chance, the heavyweight fawn broke well from four to round the opening corner in control. In doing so, he drew clear of his rivals thereafter to record a facile six and a half length victory. The time was 29.28 .10s