CASH IS KING IN CONSTRUCTION MANS DECIDER AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

Friday night saw a large crowd descend onto Galway Greyhound Stadium for a very worthwhile cause as the West Clare Cancer Care benefit meeting took centre stage and the feature on-track was the final of the Construction Man’s A3 525.

There was a handsome €1,500 on offer in the showpiece event and it’s fair to say that Ballygibbon Cash proved a class above his rivals as he sealed an unbeaten passage through the stake and indeed produced a career best effort in the final. Owned by John O’Meara, ‘Cash’ won his opening round assignment in a blistering 28.95 and followed this up in the semis when claiming a comfortable success in 28.84. Last night however, it was a case of saving his very best to last as he galloped to a comprehensive ten and a half length success in 28.82 .10s.

Understandably installed as the 4/5 favourite given what had gone before, Ballygibbon Cash meant business from the outset as he broke level with Petes Noah in five, before showing brilliant early speed and track knowledge to quickly open an already unassailable lead rounding the opener. Seven lengths clear entering the back straight, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Sive To One proceeded to draw clear thereafter and it was clear that the remainder were running for the minor placings in behind. In that regard, it was Rosshill News that came through well to chase Ballygibbon Cash home in second, however, O’Meara’s charge was in a class of his own as he romped to a near eleven length victory. The time, as expected, was a very fast 28.82 .10s.

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ALVA NEXT BEST ON UNDERCARD

On the undercard, each race offered a brilliant €500 to the winner and next best in terms of the clock was Alva Mist in the penultimate race of the night.

Indeed, this was an exceptional performance from Alva Mist as the Declan McDonagh-trained brindle flew to a near thirteen length success. Just turned two years of age, the son of Dromana Bucko and Paradise Asia, jointly owned by Declan and Gerard Lillis, was running from trap six and after a moderate start he showed sizzling early speed to sweep the opening bend in front. In charge by four lengths entering the back straight, ‘Alva’ drew clear of his rivals thereafter as he galloped relentlessly to the line to stop the clock in 28.93 .10s, a thoroughly impressive display from the 6/4 jolly.

In race one, the Denis McGrath-owned Foxwood Carter made it four career wins as he upset the 4/6 favourite, Own Lullaby, with a strong finish. The latter held all the aces entering the back straight as she had some seven lengths in hand over her rivals, however, Foxwood Carter really got to work midway down the back. Closing the gap with every stride, the son of Bockos Jon Jo and Oakfield Dancer upped the ante with fifty yards remaining and got up in the shadows of the post to claim a head victory over Own Lullaby in second. The time was 29.33 .10s.

Race two saw the Donal Cooney-trained Killdoo Lass (Burgess Bucks - Notimetotalk) make every inch of the running to claim a maiden victory. Jointly owned by Donal Cooney and Gerry Moloney, the 3/1 chance broke well wearing white and from here, showed fine determination to see off the fast finish of the even money favourite, Burnpark Taylor, in second. Just three parts of a length separating the duo, the time was 29.87 .10s.

Race three was a sprint contest and this was another exciting finish as there was a three-way photo for the winner. In the end, Fortune Seven got the nod as the 2/1 chance held firm to score. Owned by John Bowens and James Kilkenny, the son of Hiya Butt recovered from a moderate start in four to outpace his rivals early on. Holding a solid advantage entering the home straight, the latter came under serious pressure from both Pierview Queen and Kingdom Honey in the closing yards, however, stuck his head out to win that exact advantage. The time was 19.61 .5s.

The coursing-bred Freckles Mist scored for the eighth career time in race four as Brian O’Donnell’s strapping individual galloped to a 3/1 success over the sprint trip. Donning the white jacket, ‘Freckles’ trapped lively from her middle berth and showed all of her field early speed to outpace her rivals into the opener. Her task was made more difficult as she swung drastically wide off the final bend, however, the daughter of Newinn Wonder straightened up well to win by half a length from Mounvoor Lady in second. The time was 19.61 .5s.

The favourites got back on track in race five as Burkos Breeze justified her 4/5 starting price to win convincingly for Amy Burke. Running from trap one, the daughter of Grangeview Mac and Emmas Dream flew from trap one and despite turning straight right, this allowed her to manufacture a healthy lead rounding the opening bend. The fawn set a fine gallop thereafter and she was never under threat in crossing the line seven and three parts of a length clear of Hanover Mellie in second. The time was 29.51 .10s.

In race six, Annadown Zara came from off-the-pace as she made it back-to-back wins for Gary Dillon. Installed as the 5/4 favourite, the daughter of Jacob Tashadelek and Headford Laura was led to the halfway mark by Badgerfort Denis in second, however, she loomed alongside her rival down the back, showing fine pace in the process. In doing so, ‘Zara’ quickly asserted to draw clear and cross the line with five and a half lengths in hand. The time was 29.57 .10s.

Galway is never shy of putting on extreme marathon racing and in race seven, Fantasy Tuppence landed the 810 contest, but only just. Trained by Albert Mullins for the Top-Benefit-Syndicate, the daughter of Redzer Ardfert and Fantasy Lane was led early on by Croaghill Minnie but quickly took charge at the second bend to open a healthy lead. The leader looked home and hosed at this point, however, Sweet Melodies never gave up the ghost and made the leader work hard for victory. Closing the gap with every stride around the final bends, Sweet Melodies was just shy of getting her head in front as Fantasy Tuppence stuck to her task well to win by a head in a photo finish. The time was 46.65 .20s.

Race nine reverted back to the sprint trip and the Margaret Bolton-trained Meet More Often tracked brilliantly to win for a second time. Led early on by Burnpark Jaytee, the daughter of Magical Bale and Maid Me County never let the leader get loose as she tracked expertly to nip up the inside, before powering up the home straight. Racing to a two and a half length success, Kenny McGrogan’s charge stopped the clock in 19.33 .5s.

There was another make-all performance in race ten as Gainstown Choice made it four career victories for owner Paul Hogan. A 2/1 market chance, the son of Grangeview Ten and Ballymacken Bobby pinged from trap two and it was a case of catch-me-if-you-can thereafter. The contest quickly turned into a two-dog affair as Knockanoura Kate joined the leader down the back, however, ‘Gainstown’ pulled out all the stops in the closing yards to win by one and three parts of a length. The time was 29.30 .10s.

In the concluding race on the card, Evan McAuliffe got amongst the winners as Drombeg Apollo justified his even money price tag. A very consistent tracker, who was chasing his twelfth career win, ‘Apollo’ made the most of his rails pitch in one to take charge rounding the opener. From there, the son of Grangeview Ten and Grangeview Vicie proved a tough nut to crack as saw off Glynnscross Ted by two and a half lengths in second. The time was 29.57 .10s.