HUNTER ON THE PROWL AT DUNDALK

Ian Fortune

Gold Cup champion Bogger Hunter is on the Irish Sprint Cup trail and made a fine impression in an open sprint at Dundalk on Saturday night.

Although moderately into stride, the hugely fast tracker got racing into the turn to close on the fast-starting Hawkfield Ava before pouncing on the long run for home.

The Ian Reilly trained star got up to score by three parts of a length in 21.13. Hawkfield Ava also ran a big race in defeat, while Verratti, who had beaten Bogger Hunter seven days earlier, was another length and a half back in third.

A DOUBLE FOR IAN

Incidentally, Neon Night later completed a fine double for Ian Reilly, coming home a mile clear in an A2 525.

The son of Ballymac Best and Ballymac Natalie said goodbye to his current grade in some style, emerging an eight and a quarter length winner over Brigands Cove in a fast 28.56.

BRUCE MAKES A FINE DEBUT

Earlier on the card there was a fine buckle between Dryland Bruce and Greizmann in the opener, the first semi finals of an ON1 400.

Dryland Bruce led into the turn but drifted off the fence to allow Greizmann to slip through.

Declan Byrne’s Dryland Bruce wasn’t finished with yet, however. The powerfully built son of Droopys Sydney and Dryland Sally powered home to get back on terms before taking the verdict by a short head in 21.28. It was a fine debut from both the winner and runner-up.

DAWN TOO SHARP

The second heat went the way of Poets Dawn as she made virtually all after a slick exit to emerge a comfortable five length scorer.

Laurence Jones and Ray Byrnes’ daughter of Droopys Sydney and Got The Charm stayed tight to the fence to increase her lead all the way to the line before stopping the clock in 21.45. Lynnway Touch was second.