PROMISING PUPS SPARKLE AT KILKENNY

Ian Fortune

There was massive interest in proceedings at Kilkenny on Friday night as a hugely promising crop of young greyhounds took their first steps towards future stardom in the opening round of the Champion Open Unraced.

In total four of the eight heat winners dipped under 29 seconds with little separating Ballinakill Alf, Seven Beach, Droopys Doughnut and the pace-setting Unreal Bruiser.

BRUISER COMPLETES A HOLLAND HAT TRICK

In victory in the final heat, Unreal Bruiser completed a tremendous treble for Graham Holland. The son of Droopys Sydney and Fork Lightning shot from traps and was always in control as he saw off the favourite Stonepark Syd by three and a half lengths in 28.90.   

ALF MAKES AN IMPRESSION

Just a spot behind him was his kennel companion Ballinakill Alf as he came home clear in the opening heat in 28.91. Owned by the Pillar Syndicate, who had two winners on the night, the son of Pestana overcame hardship in the early yards to hit the front into the third turn. From there he eased on to win by five lengths from Grouchos Vic.

BOLT LIVES UP TO HIS NAME

The Pillar Syndicate double and the second leg of the Graham Holland treble came in Heat 6 with Jacktavern Bolt coming home clear. A brother to Ballinakill Alf, he led throughout to beat Deadly Jet by four and a half lengths in 29.10.

 

BEACH IMPRESSES

The well-bred Seven Beach provided Jennifer O’Donnell with a fine success in Heat 4. The son of Pestana and Whitings Gift shot to the front before the turn to run out a comfortable two and a half length scorer over Ballymac Copper in 28.97.

DOUGHNUT WITH A SWEET SUCCESS

Droopys Doughnut made a fine impression in Heat 7, overcoming early crowing to burst through on the fence at the turn. The Johnny Linehan trained son of Pestana and Droopys Dance maintained a powerful gallop throughout to justify odds-on favouritism in 28.99. Bymystandard was second.

STYLISH STYLE

After winning the last two renewals, Michael O’Donovan made a good start to his bid to make it three on the bounce with Style in Heat 5. The son of Droopys Sydney was a 5-4 chance and duly obliged, making all to beat Cholita by four and a half lengths in 29.05.

GEROGE COMES OUT ON TOP

Robert Gleeson and Thomas Glynn were on the mark in Heat 2 with Carrick George leading from the corner to see off Arrigle Rise by a length and a half in 29.22.

TOIRC TAKES A MESSY AFFAIR

Easach Toirc took his opportunity when it arose in a very messy third heat. Trained by Karol Ramsbottom for Gavin Johns, the son of Pestana was left in front on the final turn as the leaders Chelms Skippy and Sawdust Hurricane became entwined. Easach Toirc went on to beat Annual Mal by two and a half lengths in 29.77.