LINEHAN LANDS TREBLE ON A NIGHT OF SMART PERFORMANCES AT CURRAHEEN PARK
Barry Drake
Local trainer Johnny Linehan enjoyed a fantastic treble in Curraheen Park on Saturday night.
It all started in the opener as Ettas Dream made a smart winning debut for owner Stephen A Bate. The November youngster rates an exciting young talent as the even-money favourite showed plenty of pace to get off the mark on the first time of asking, in 28.90.
EVERYTHING RIGHT
In the following race, Footfield Peach did everything right to win the A3 contest in great style.
In the ownership of Martin Hagan, the June youngster was always in control and the improving puppy delivered a superb 28.48. Four lengths back to Da Gonzo in second place.
POWERFUL FINISH
The Linehan treble was completed in the opening third round heat of the €24,000 Curraheen Park Spring Derby.
In the ownership of Martin Hagan, Footfield Siren put on a powerful finish to land the spoils. Quickest in the closing stages, the 4-1 shot beat another Linehan runner in the shape of Montana Fantasy, by three lengths, in 28.71, with a neck back to Ballymac Shark in third place.
SPRING DERBY
In the second heat, Ballymac Heat set the standard with a magnificent 28.39 winning performanc
A quick start put the 2-1 winner in cruise control early on, showing huge pace to quickly put the race to bed, the impressive winner proved three and a half lengths too strong for Rural Taylor. Melling Road a length behind the runner-up in third.
STRONG FINISHER
Heat three went the way of Dellser Bells for Paul Keniry.
The June puppy ran a great opening two corners and the strong finisher proved too strong in the second half of the race. The 9-2 shot stopped the clock in 28.84, three lengths clear of Yankee Doodle, with a length and a half back to The Other Ollie.
FINAL HEAT
Trained by James O'Rourke for Michael O'Sullivan, Hot Magic produced one of his quickest starts to make all the running in the fourth and final heat.
The May puppy displayed massive early pace and he beat the unlucky in-running Nellies Holly who powered home to get within two and a half lengths of the winner, in 28.63. A length back to Blarney Boy in third place.
OTHER SMART PERFORMANCES
Tinnock Solis ran out a smart winner of the Open 750, for Michael Devereux. The 6-4 second favourite clocked 42.23 to land the spoils in fine fashion.
Race four, an A2, saw Haughty Jessie deliver a very impressive winning performance. In the ownership of Anne O'Brien and Frank Clune, the May puppy was a runaway winner, in 28.49.
Previously named Spell Binder, Faypoint Blue, trained by Graham Holland for Patricia Flanagan, took the fifth of the night, an A0, as the 2-1 winner finished best to win, in 28.69. Droopys Beglin set the early fractions and he was a head back in second.
Rollaway Cooper, for Frank O'Doherty, just got the verdict in the €1,000 final of the Local Trainers and CPSC 550. The 4-1 shot was in front at the opening corner and the June youngster stuck to his task well to fend off Strike It Sandy in a brilliant finish. Just a short head between the front two, in 30.70. (550).
Racing concluded with a classy performance from Millridge Levi. Donal O'Mahony's 7-4 winner made the most of the drop in class as the exciting young talent was quickly in control and he stormed clear to win the A0 with plenty to spare. It was a wide-margin success, in 28.39.