GREAT ENTERTAINMENT AT KILKENNY

Ian Fortune

There was plenty to entertain at Kilkenny on Friday night. Obviously, the semi finals of the valuable Deadly Kennels A2 525 were the feature but there was some superb racing to back it up.

Both heats of the Deadly Kennels A2 525 went to script with Cheque For Sir and Priceless Opera continuing their superb run of form. Cheque For Sir was first to score, making a flying start to dictate from the early stages of the opening heat.

Trained by Karol Ramsbottom for the Cash Back Syndicate, the son of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Ava posted a stunning 4.17 first sectional. That was enough to see him race up the inside of the other flying starter Grangeview Best before asserting on the turn.

Once going to the front, the result was never in doubt with Cheque For Sir easing away to eventually see off Grangeview Best by three length in a fastest of the night 28.99. Kilgraney Leo was another length and a half adrift in third.

OPERA TOO SHARP

It was very much a similar scenario with Priceless Opera making all in the second heat for Bryan and Kathleen Murphy.

Paul Hennessy has his string purring at present and Priceless Opera was another example of how consistent the whole kennel seems to be running at present.  

Dictating from the opening yards, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Bull Run Bistro kept Boothebest at arm’s length throughout to eventually cross the line a length and a half to the good in 29.07. Foyle Amy finished a further three and a half lengths adrift as she completed the final field.

Draw for Friday’s final:

1 Cheque For Sir

2 Priceless Opera

3 Grangeview Best

4 Foyle Amy (m)

5 Kilgraney Leo (w)

6 Boothebest (w)

 

KYOGO FASTEST IN BURGESS KENNELS ON2

On the undercard, Deadly Kyogo set the pace in the second round of the Burgess Kennels ON2 525.

The son of Droopys Sydney stayed on strongly, leading from the third turn to see off another strong runner Allen Dancer by two and a half length in 29.23.

Storys Law made every inch after a fast start to win the opening heat by a length and a half from Blackstone Bobby in 29.32, while Here Comes Smog also made all in the second heat to win by four lengths from Minglers Avenue in 29.38.

ESCOABARK HOLDS ZOE IN A THRILLER

There was also a superb staying contest and Pablo Escobark continued his superb run of form, returning to winning ways as he contained the big finish of Kilara Zoe by the minimum margin.

Pablo Escobark looked certain to emerge a comfortable winner when flying to the turn to lead by three lengths but he was really forced to pull out all the stops. Kilara Zoe came with a withering charge from the third turn to fail by just a short head. Pablo Escobark stopped the clock in 40.89.