BALLINVEALA BOLT BACK TO HIS BEST

BALLINVEALA BOLT BACK TO HIS BEST

Peter Farrell

There was competitive sweepstake action at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night as both the Droppys Stud A2 525 and the Ballymac Kennels A0 525 got underway.

Among the heat winners across the two stakes, it was Ballinveala Bolt who stole the spotlight, returning to his sharpest form with a commanding front-running display for Vincent Purtill and Daniel Brassil. A proven open-class performer with some rapid figures already on his card, ‘Bolt’ signalled that another return to top company awaits once this stake concludes. For now, he looks very much the greyhound to beat.

Drawn in red for heat four, the son of Magical Bale was only moderately away but showed brilliant early acceleration to drive up the inside and take control. From there, Brassil’s charge quickly built a commanding advantage down the back and never looked threatened, coasting to a six-and-a-half-length victory. The 4/5 favourite stopped the clock in a rapid 28.51.

HEAT WATCH

In the remaining heats, Glengar Blitz (Glengar Bale—Stream Of Sydney) justified his 4/5 starting price with a strong off-the-pace success for Bradley Canty and Pat Buckley. Norfolkandchance set the running from trap four and held a clear lead for Declan McDonagh, but ‘Blitz’ was always within striking distance. Producing a powerful late surge, he reeled in the leader to score by a length and a half in 28.81.

Heat two went the way of Snuggie Battie (5/2), who showed tremendous determination to secure the fifth win of his career for owner Breda Casey. Breaking well from trap one to lead early, ‘Battie’ came under pressure down the back and was headed around the bottom bends by Carrigmore Micah. However, the son of Jacob Tashadelek and Miles Girl dug deep, rallying in the closing stages to get back up and prevail by a short head in 29.10.

In heat three, the Corona Ryan and Chris Connolly-owned Beaming Zen bounced back from a luckless spell at Shelbourne Park with a dominant display. Sent off at 4/1, the daughter of Doolin Duke - Beaming Smasher didn’t come away fluently from trap three and had to settle for third entering the back as Flyers Hobbit dictated the pace. But showing a blistering turn of foot approaching halfway, ‘Zen’ swept past her rivals and powered clear to win by seven lengths. It was an eye-catching performance, stopping the clock in a smart 28.74.

EMILY QUICKEST IN BALLYMAC KENNELS OPENER

Three heats of the Ballymac Kennels stake followed on the Limerick card and the standard was set by Crescent Emily (Good News - Killeanaulerocket) in the third and final qualifier of the night.

Trained by David Flanagan for Gabriel Horan, Crescent Emily had to work hard for this one as Tiermana Hunter blasted from traps to establish a four-length lead entering the back straight. The classy fawn began to close the gap around the bottom two bends and, maintaining her momentum up the Limerick hill, she reeled in the long-time leader. The 7/2 chance got up by half a length, stopping the clock in a smart 28.56.

Liam Dowling enjoyed a quickfire double in the earlier heats as Ballymac Mint and Ballymac Iroko both obliged.

Ballymac Mint was first to score, justifying even-money favouritism with a make-all display. Quickly to the front from trap six, the daughter of Ballymac Ariel was kept honest throughout by Whizzing Daisy but held on well to win by a length in 28.81.

Ballymac Iroko completed the Dowling double in the very next heat with a stirring recovery drive. Slowly into stride from trap six and hampered at the opening bend, the son of Ballymac Cooper appeared to face a mountain to climb as Onthe Run Ollie opened a six-length advantage down the back and looked home and hosed. But ‘Iroko’ found top gear approaching halfway, powering around the outside to reel in the leader and win by a length and a half. He clocked 28.72, and did so with plenty in hand.