AUDREY FLIES THE LOCAL FLAG IN LIFFORD'S BOYLE SPORTS OAKS OPENER

Peter Farrell

A large crowd attended the opening-round heats of the BOYLE Sports Oaks at Lifford Stadium on Friday night, with superb performances across all four heats as local runner Drumdoit Audrey set the standard courtesy of an exceptional off-the-pace display.

With a brilliant €15,000 on offer to the eventual winner of the Oaks, it was little surprise to see such a high-class entry assembled for the Northwest’s flagship event. However, while plenty of established names impressed on the night, it was the locally owned and trained Drumdoit Audrey who claimed the fastest time of the night, producing a stunning late burst to reel in Magical Fiona.

Running in heat three, Magical Fiona was expected to take plenty of beating, and the contest looked all but over early on as Pat Guilfoyle’s charge pinged from trap four to post a rapid 2.53 sectional. Showing a lovely burst of early speed, ‘Fiona’ established a commanding lead into the back straight, where she was chased by Droopys Honor in second. Meanwhile, Drumdoit Audrey was beginning to find her stride in third after a less-than-fluent break from trap six. Showing an eye-catching turn of pace approaching the penultimate bend, Rebecca Porter and Alan Byrne’s brindle upped the ante between the bottom two bends, emerging as a major threat to Magical Fiona, who continued to set a frantic gallop out in front. However, with the Lifford hill looming, the contest was beginning to play to the strengths of the striped-jacketed runner, and the daughter of McInerney – Ballymac Ariel proved too powerful when it mattered most as she wore down the gallant Magical Fiona. Crossing the line to seal a three-quarters-of-a-length victory, this was a fantastic performance from the October ’24 whelp, who stopped the clock in a blistering 28.51 (.20s). Indeed, it was the fastest time recorded at the Northwest venue since Wi Can Dream posted 28.53 back in April 2023.

GRACE UPSETS THE ODDS

There was a shock in heat two as Gealltanas Grace lowered the colours of outright favourite Droopys Crispy, producing a superb trap-to-line display for the Feel-Good-Racing-Syndicate.

In a five-runner affair, Droopys Crispy was virtually unbackable from a favourable draw in trap one, but the outright favourite failed to break in her customary flying fashion, which ultimately proved decisive in a contest where she otherwise lost very little in defeat. In contrast, Gealltanas Grace was on song from the outset, breaking smartly from her wide berth in six to post a rapid 2.56 sectional. As a result, the daughter of Black Parachute established a healthy lead into the back straight, where she was soon challenged by the rapidly improving Droopys Crispy. With the latter forced to check at the third bend, this afforded ‘Grace’ some valuable breathing space at the head of proceedings, and she needed no second invitation as she powered up the Lifford hill to seal a length-and-three-quarters victory over Droopys Crispy, who could count herself a shade unlucky on the night. The time was a brilliant 28.55 (.20s).

COSMIC HOLDS OFF BERRY

The opening heat of the night saw Bombay Special sent off as the 5/4 favourite, but early traffic ultimately put paid to her chances, with Cosmic Dancer taking full advantage to land the spoils for Joao Neves and Brendan Maunsell.

A level break saw Cosmic Dancer emerge from the pack along the rails, and she tracked beautifully around the opening bend to avoid the skirmishing on the outside and skip clear of Droopys Mezza in second. With all still to play for down the back straight, Berry On Faya was beginning to catch the eye as the Murt Leahy-trained runner recovered from early traffic and steadily ate into the deficit around the bottom two bends. However, Cosmic Dancer was proving a tough nut to crack and, despite the best efforts of ‘Berry’, the daughter of Ballymac Bolger – Fire Height Mal pulled out all the stops to hold on by a head in a thrilling finish, stopping the clock in 28.66 (.20s)

NIFTY MAKES HER MARK

The concluding heat saw Pat and Donal Guilfoyle get on the scoresheet as their Galway Oaks winner, Magical Be Nifty (Droopys Jet – Magical Poppy), produced a commanding front-running display to comfortably account for her rivals.

Unassuming was installed as the favourite for this contest ahead of Magical Be Nifty, but it was the latter who made the more telling start, breaking smartly from trap four to immediately put her rivals on the back foot. Showing superior early speed to nip around clear of local track specialist Drveen Lass, ‘Nifty’ opened a sizeable advantage at the halfway mark, stretching out in exceptional fashion for her Classic-winning handler. Maintaining a strong gallop between the bottom two bends, Magical Be Nifty continued to set the pace out in front and, although Drveen Lass made late inroads into the deficit, it was a case of too little, too late as the damage had already been done. Crossing the line to seal a comfortable four-length victory, Magical Be Nifty stopped the clock in a smart 28.77 (.20s).

The draw for the semi finals of the BOYLE Sports Lifford Oaks 525 was made shortly after and is as follows :

1st Semi-Final

T1 - BALLYMAC JETAWAY

T2 - DROOPYS HONOR

T3 - DROOPYS CRISPY

T4 - DRVEEN LASS

T5 - COSMIC DANCER

T6 - GEALLTANAS GRACE

2nd Semi-Final

T1 - MAGICAL FIONA

T2 - MAGICAL BE NIFTY

T3 - UNASSUMING

T4 - BERRY ON FAYA

T5 - DROOPYS MEZZA

T6 - DRUMDOIT AUDREY

*****

EIMEARS FASTEST IN NORTHWEST GREYHOUND SUPPLIES

Elsewhere, the opening-round heats of the Northwest Greyhound Supplies A2/A3 525 served as the supporting act, and it was Eimears Lady who laid down an early marker with an impressive front-running display for Gerard Quinn and Brian Robinson.

A finalist in the TIME Graders Derby at Limerick, this represented a drop in grade for Eimears Lady, and she duly obliged, making every yard to dip comfortably under the 29-second barrier. Drawn in four, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat – Drumcove Roxy took a flyer from traps and, in truth, put the race to bed early doors. Opening a sizeable advantage down the back straight, ‘Eimears’ was never seriously threatened as the 2/1 chance powered her way to a five-and-three-quarter-length victory over Benbradagh Bono, stopping the clock in a rapid 28.77 (.20s). Incidentally, that sealed a double on the night for Robinson as Reenaderry Ellie (Dromana Bucko - Ellie O) landed heat two of the stake, holding off the late advances of On The Wire to clock 29.15 (.20s).

In the remaining heats, Lissatouk Fred made a winning start to life in the North as he built on strong Galway and Dundalk form to post a smart 28.95 (.20s) for Kurtis Bain and the Dolly-Mixture-Syndicate. Leading early from trap three, the son of Orchestrate held Roanna Ranger at bay throughout to cross the line two and a quarter lengths better off. It proved a similar story in heat two as Drumnafern Balor, owned by Eugene Skeffington, proved too strong for his rivals on his way to posting 29.00 (.20s). Taking charge from Gailliagh Johnny at the second bend, the powerful brindle stayed on strongly to see off Old Fort Jingo by three lengths. Meanwhile, Dilly Mac Best continued her recent purple patch as she made it three wins on the spin for owner Ann Breslin. A lady very much on an upward trajectory, she maintained her fine run of form to cross the line two lengths clear of Polish Faith in a brisk 29.10 (.20s). The remaining heat saw Green Me Granny produce an eye-catching display to maintain his unbeaten record for Brendan and Plunkett Matthews. A fine winner of an open sprint at Dundalk on his previous start, he overcame an early bump at traps to make serious inroads into his rivals down the back before finishing strongly to seal a two-length victory over Gizmo Rambo in 28.99 (.20s). One suspects the April ’25 son of Ballymac Cashout – Ougham Sky will go considerably faster next time around.

*****

DEAL LANDS NOVICE DECIDER

A mini sweepstake final also went down for decision on the night, and it was Brendan Matthews who secured his first winner on the card courtesy of the unbeaten Dealofthecentury.

A winner on her novice debut in 17.83, the blue was ideally housed in trap one, however, she was forced to do it the hard way, coming from off the pace to power clear on the demanding Lifford hill. Drveen Girl laid down a stern challenge to the favourite, but the choicely-bred daughter of Ballymac Bolger – Dolce Vita, the latter also responsible for the likes of Bubbly Charger, Pain Barrier and Wide Open, finished with a flourish to cross the line two and a half lengths clear. The winning time was a good 17.70 (.10s), maintaining her unbeaten record in impressive fashion.