ADRIAN HANLEY VET SEMIS PROVE OF HIGH QUALITY AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

The semi finals of the Adrian Hanley Vet A1/A2 525 served as the feature at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and this competition will take a bit of winning in one week's time as both semis produced outstanding performances from Carrigmore Freya and Hopes Kitty.

The quickest of the two semis on offer was Carrigmore Freya as Patsy and Aoife Coffey’s runner produced a sparkling performance to record a third career win. From a level break it was Carrigmore Freya and Kilcolgan Comet that disputed for early supremacy and the duo went neck and neck around the opening bend. ‘Freya’ took charge at this point to hold a two length advantage, however, the daughter of Droopys Sydney really started to motor at the three-quarter mark. Upping the ante around the bottom two bends, the 4/1 chance put her rivals to the sword in emphatic style thereafter as she powered up the hill to cross the line five and a half lengths clear of Kilcolgan Comet in second. The time was a blistering 28.39.

KITTY IMPRESSES AGAIN

Not to be outdone, there was an equally impressive performance in the opening semi as Hopes Kitty, who has caught the eye in recent starts, finished with another wet sail to secure victory.

Installed as the 4/5 favourite, the Pat Buckley-trained puppy has been a real eye-catcher in recent starts with her power-packed finishes so the writing was somewhat on the wall when rounding the opener just three lengths adrift of both Portdrine Magic and Drombeg Spark. Showing rapid progress down the back, Amanda Jeal’s prospect went for a daring run in between runners around the bottom two bends and this proved an astute move as the daughter of Tullig Cyrname powered to victory thereafter. Galloping clear in the closing yards, this was a really intelligent display from Hopes Kitty as she won by three lengths in a smart time of 28.57.

SUPPORTING CARD

Elsewhere on the card, there were a couple of fine performances and the first of those came from in the curtain raiser as Zari Socks claimed a convincing success in his A8 contest. Sent off as the 4/7 favourite, Noel Ahern’s runner was briefly headed at traprise, however, quickly asserted from trap five to manufacture an already unassailable advantage heading down the back. Stretching out well, this was a demolition job for the son of Tullig Cyrname as he won by over twenty-five lengths in 28.71.

In race nine, We Got This made every post a winner for Sean Roche. Seeking a ninth career success, the 3/1 chance trapped lively from five and swept the opening bend to race into a commanding lead down the back straight. From here, the son of Droopys Buick and Knocksouna Lady stayed on expertly to cross the line six lengths clear of Aherla Rocco, who finished well, in second. The time was a swift 28.34.

In the concluding race on the card there was a really telling performance from Grouchos Scooby as he landed a novice 750-yard contest in fine style. Trained by John Byrne for Shane and Luke O’Connell, ‘Scooby’ broke well from three but was forced to play second fiddle behind Listen Ellie early on. However, showing the superior stamina entering the fifth and sixth bends, the son of Malachi and Kearneys Lane appreciated the extra yardage as he saw off Zenith Angel by three and a half lengths, in a smart 41.62.