AYKAY FLY STARTS IN NIGHT OF BIG PERFORMANCES AT CURRAHEEN PARK

Barry Drake

JAYKAY FLY (Serene Ace-Flaming Sahara) set the standard at Curraheen Park on Saturday night, winning race eight, an AA0, in 28.25 for trainer Paul Hennessy and owner Carol O'Rirodan.

The 5-4 favourite took a flyer from trap one and once leading around the opening turns, it was always going to take something special to reel him in. Soon three or four lengths clear on the back straight, the impressive winner was holding at that advantage as he returned to top form. A 28.25 winning run, three and a half lengths clear of Romeo Alliance.

In the €1,500 to the winner Laurels Restaurant A1 stake final, Noon Ballad (Roaming Turbo-Burgess Madam) ran out a brilliant winner for trainer Kieran Lynch and owners Eoin Ivers and Fintan Lawlor. The 4-6 favourite was in prime position right away as the 4-6 favourite produced a flying start from the inside of the track. Quickly putting the race to bed, the outcome was never in any doubt as the in-form tracker recorded back-to-back wins. Displaying plenty of speed throughout up front, Noon Ballad came home three lengths clear of Clonavanny Blue, in 28.29.

Noel and Michelle Barron enjoyed a great weekend, and they struck in the €1,500 to the winner Dan & Sheila Buckley A2 Memorial stake, with Rosstemple Blan (Ballymac Vic-Ballymac Pepples) delivering a career-best winning performance in the 575. Favourite Super Sydney cut out a lot of the running, but the winner had all the answers in the second half of the race. Powering home, Rosstemple Blan was on top in the closing yards, beating the early paced long time leader, by half a length, in 31.19.

The €1,200 to the winner GoGreyhoundRacing.ie A3 went the way of Corrough Sam (Orchestrate-Slaneyside Diane) for the in-form kennel of Michael Curtin. The 3-1 chance showed a nice touch of early speed to slip around the opening corners in front. Favourite Millies Story was running well in second, but she was short of room at a vital stage, and the winner kept finding off the final corners. Half a length the margin, in 28.74.

In the Open Sprint, Tiermana Dream (Ballyhimikkin Jet-Tiermana Jetty) ran out a brilliant winner for trainer Colm Fitzgerald and owners the Zero Zero Syndicate. It took the 2-1 second choice of the punters a few strides to hit top gear, but once he did, he flew past the well-backed The Other Aari to lead. From there, he pulled right away to win in style. Another top-class performance, clocking 17.38, four lengths clear of The Other Aari.

In the A1 575, Kittys Turbo (Roaming Turbo-Kittys Buddy) put on a career-best display from the rails pitch for John Coleman and Fintan Murray. The 6-4 favourite came away racing from the inside of the track and made every yard of the running to win in style. Lulu Baby Spark ran well in second, just a length back, in 31.16.

In the closing race, an A0, Titanic Brads (Deerjet Sydney-Bogger Swift) came home in front to win for trainer Graham Holland and owner James Campbell. The 4-1 enjoyed a nice run out wide early on, flying down the back straight; the impressive winner finished off well to deny Carrig Cartel, by two lengths, in 28.85.

Trainer Eamonn Morton enjoyed a fine double. In the opener, an A2, Bucks Free (7-2) (Burgess Bucks-Quivers Magic) scored in 28.77. In the second, an A3 550, Broken Best (4-1) (Ballymac Best-Broken Doll) landed the spoils in 30.02.

Race three, an S0-S1, went the way of Bridgevalley Max (Kilara Icon-Maid Me County) for Margaret O'Herlihy. The 6-4 joint favourite stopped the clock, in 17.81.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK ADMISSION FOR RACING IN CURRAHEEN PARK