HIGH TREND SURPRISE 8-1 WINNER IN BAR ONE RACING IRISH GREYHOUND LAURELS
Barry Drake
HIGH TREND ran out a fabulous winner of the €30,000 to the winner Bar One Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels in front of a packed house on Saturday night.
The 8-1 shot was making it a fifth Laurels success for trainer Graham Holland and in truth, it was another wonderful event at the Cork circuit. Owned by the R-T-AND-C-Syndicate, High Trend scored in four of the five-round heats of the Irish Greyhound Laurels.
ROLE MODEL SET STRONG EARLY FRACTIONS
It was the outsider of the pack Role Model who won the all-important early lead as she displayed massive early pace to sail around the opening turns in front.
High Trend turned second and Eazy Razzle was soon third as favourites Carrick Aldo and Jacktavern Bolt found trouble along with Glory Baz after poor starts.
Nip and tuck down the back straight, Role Model and High Trend were serving up a fantastic contest and it was High Trend hit the front between the final corners, however, he was forced to pull out all the stops as the fast-finishing Eazy Razzle was within touching distance.
It got close in the final yards, but after railing tightly off the last bend and staying on strongly, it was High Trend who got the verdict over Eazy Razzle. Half a length the margin, in 28.31, with two and a half lengths back to the early leader Role Model.
Happy connections of High Trend - winner of the €30,000 to the winner Bar One Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels.
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NIGHT TO REMEMBER FOR TRAINER GRAHAM HOLLAND
It was a night to remember for the Graham Holland kennels, a superb six-timer on the night and Romeo Kingpin landed the €10,000 to the winner Michael Bart Leahy Memorial A2 stake.
The 6-4 favourite was always in the mix, but he had to work hard to lead at the third corner and the David Firmager-owned runner then battled bravely to fend off the fast-finishing Millridge Nadia, by a neck, in 28.42.
Winning connections and friends and family of Bart Leahy after the success of Romeo Kingpin in the final of the Michael Bart Leahy Memorial A2 stake which had a winner’s prize of €10,000.
1-2 FOR TEAM HOLLAND
Graham Holland enjoyed a perfect 1-2 in the final of the €2,000 to the winner Jerry & Michael Hennerty Memorial ON1 final.
Sacundai displayed fine early speed to slip around in front and he set strong early fractions up front. Newinn Curly was catching the eye on the back straight and the son of Droopys Sydney and Newinn Cuckoo showed massive gears. The April youngster flew up the home straight to score, in 28.25, two lengths clear of the early leader.
Swords Rex was the star of the show in the undercard as the 4-11 favourite made no mistakes, delivering a stunning 28.15 winning performance and making it six on the night for the Riverside Kennels team.
Trained by Graham Holland for owner Barbara Lowndes, Swords Rex was a huge attraction on the night despite his short odds. Quickest into the stride, it was game over right away. Always in total control up front, Rex was winning for the 25th time, clocking 28.15 and winning with plenty to spare. Eight lengths back in second was Grouchos Vic.
Ballinakill Alf, trained by Graham Holland for owners the Pillar Syndicate, delivered a brave performance to win the second, the Youghal Track Supporters Club Open 330. A 17.75 winning performance from the 7-4 second favourite.
In the following race, the Droopys Stud Open 575, Gaytime Hugo delivered a sensational performance for team Holland and the O'Connell family as the well backed 5-4 favourite stopped the clock, in a rapid, 30.70. Powering down the back straight to lead, the classy performer pulled right away to beat early leader Bartlemy Sham, by six lengths.
Knockbrogan Glen overcame the wide trap six draw to win the opener, the €2,000 to the winner Curraheen Park Supporters Club A4 550-yard stake. John O'Sullivan's dog just made the corner in front and 10-3 shot was strong throughout as he scored, in 30.10.
In the fifth of the night, the Laurels Consolation, it was Rathdown Molly who impressed when winning for trainer Marie Gilbert and owner Bill Mulholland. Strongest on the terms home, the 3-1 shot finished well to deny longtime leader Ballymun Boy, by a length, in 28.31.
The Broadstrand Bono at Stud Open Bitch race produced a fantastic contest and it was Bredas Wood who made full use of the inside draw to win for trainer Matthew Harte and owner Pat Carey. The 2-1 joint favourite was in front early and she kept finding in front, showing plenty of big all round pace to beat Ballymac Run, by a length and a half, in 28.21.
The Good Cody at Stud Open 750 went the way of Threesixfive for trainer Scott Phelan and owners the Pints of Heino Syndicate. The 7-4 favourite delivered a fantastic finish to land the spoils and beat a top class line up. Such a classy performer, the impressive winner was well on top in the closing stages as she beat Kinturk Road, by six and a half lengths, in 41.97.
The Clona Blaze at Stud Open 575 was won by the John Linehan trained Unmatched. Owned by the Swipe Right Syndicate, the 5-2 winner showed plenty of early speed and the outcome was never in any doubt up front. A smashing display, winning in 29.69 and coming home with four and a half lengths to spare over Millridge Levi.
Racing ended with a lovely winning effort for Claude Jeremiah as the Pat Kiely trained runner ran out a smart winner of the Curraheen Park Bookmakers A0. In the ownership of Patrick Hennerty, this was a brilliant display as the 5-2 shot displayed massive gears to come from behind and win, in 28.65. The December puppy is one to watch in the months ahead.