FANTASTIC FESTIVAL ACTION AT KILKENNY

Ian Fortune

There were a number of superb displays at Kilkenny on Sunday evening with the Track Bookmakers & KGOBA Festival of Racing certainly delivering.

Murt Leahy was certainly a man in form, sending out three winners although the fastest run on the card came from Kapuka Warrior for Karol Ramsbottom.

Kapuka Warrior and Seven Beach had a great tussle. The former set the pace down the far side but was challenged all the way to the line by Seven Beach. Kapuka Warrior held on by three parts of a length to record a rapid 28.87.

YONKERS IMPRESSES AS MURT RECORDS A HAT TRICK

The most valuable one-off race on the card, the Born Warrior @ Stud Open 525 saw Murt Leahy score with Bonkersinyonkers.

A 7-2 chance from a potentially tricky draw in four, he broke smartly from four to sit second into the turn before pouncing of the second bend as the early pace-setter Burgess Darcy encountered traffic. Once going to the front, the son of Droopys Sydney eased on to win by five and a half length in 29.02.

TEASIE IS ON FAYA

Leahy was also on the mark in the final of the €2,000 Track Bookmakers & KGOBA A3 525 with Teasie On Faya getting up on the line to deny long-time leader She Is Lovely.

In what was a terrific finish, Da Quiet Patch also stormed home but Teasie On Faya took the verdict by a short head from Da Quiet Patch with She Is Lovely just a neck away in third.

WUMBLE TOO STRONG

Murt Leahy completed his hat trick in the finale with Feelsawumble coming through to lead of the final turn.

Last in the early yards, he was left third as they entered the back straight and seemed to advance with each stride thereafter. Moving past Burgess Crusader on the home turn, Feelsawumble stayed on to score by a length in 29.29.

JUST UP MAKES ALL

Liam Harding’s Druids Just Up displayed fine early dash to make virtually every inch in the final of the €1,400 Track Bookmakers & KGOBA A2.

Ballybough Olwyn did finish out the race well but Druids Just Up held on to score by a half length in 29.26.

BELLE GETS LOOSE IN UNRACED DECIDER

It was a similar story in the final of the €1,300 Track Bookmakers & KGOBA ON2 with Karlow Belle making all for Henry Kelly.

The daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Right So Belle may have been a 5-1 chance but she displayed good early speed to dictate from the start and was aided by her rivals finding traffic in behind. Knockroe Rose ran on at the finish but Karlow Belle held on to win by a length and a half in 29.56.

FANCY RUN FROM ANNUAL

John Wilson and Annual Fancy caused a slight shock in the final of the €900 Track Bookmakers & KGOBA A4 Bitch 525, getting the better of the hot favourite Salubrious Izzy.

The latter actually led the field into the turn but Annual Fancy was always on her inner challenging before finally taking over in the third turn. From there, she eased on to win by two lengths in 29.07.

HEROIC RUN FROM ROB

Racing opened with another final, that of the Track Bookmakers & KGOBA A4 525.

This was a hugely competitive affair with many holding strong claims at various points through the contest but Osmond Bennett’s Robs Hero eventually came out on top.

Trained by Paraic Campion, the home bred son of Boyhero was never far away before charging into the third turn to take over. His stride shortened on the run in but he held on to beat Goingtherightway by a head in 29.45.

SHAKIRA AND NOBODYS IMPRESS

Elsewhere on the card there were a couple of fine displays in the remaining one-off races.

Elite Shakira dominated in the Open 725, breaking smartly to make every inch for Myles Roban and the Somemothersdohave Syndicate.

The daughter of Elite Black and Minnies Kursk eventually hit the line four and a half lengths to the good over Russmur Shane in 41.25.

DIPPED UNDER THE 29 SECOND

Nobodys Home dipped under the 29 second barrier in the A1 fourth race.

Leading from start to finish, the son of Bull Run Bolt, who is owned by the Don’t Know Syndicate, got the better of Sober Secret by three and a half lengths in 28.99.