CHARMING CIARA LANDS GALWAY’S MARTIN FAHY MEMORIAL

Peter Farrell

The final of the €3,000-to-the-winner Martin Fahy Memorial provided the highlight at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and it was the in-form Charming Ciara that produced a dominant display to land the feature for Donal Duggan and owners Tom and Ciara Kelly.

Having impressed in her semi-final victory the previous week, Charming Ciara carried that momentum into the decider with a flawless front-running performance. While Deadly Ace was installed as the 5/4 favourite despite suffering a surprise defeat in the semi-finals, there was to be no stopping the Duggan-trained runner as she continued her rich vein of form in emphatic fashion at odds of 5/2. Drawn in trap four, Charming Ciara was electric at traprise and immediately asserted on the run-up, posting an identical 3.32 sectional to the one that saw her land her semi final assignment. Elsewhere, the field converged approaching the opening bend and inevitable crowding ensued, allowing the daughter of Grangeview Ten - Marlay Star to establish a commanding seven-length advantage entering the back straight. From there, it proved little more than a procession. Maintaining a relentless gallop throughout, Charming Ciara powered around the bottom two bends before stretching further clear in the closing stages to record a hugely impressive ten-and-a-half-length victory over Pierview Big Rob, who stayed on to claim second. Stopping the clock in a career-best 29.21 .20s, it was a performance worthy of bringing the curtain down on this year's Martin Fahy Memorial, which was very kindly sponsored by the Fahy family.

DOLLY DISPATCHES RIVALS IN HORAN FAMILY DECIDER

The final of the Horan Family Syndicate 525 also featured on the card and it was Brickhill Dolly that came with a devastating late charge to land the €1,200 first prize and shed her maiden tag in style.

Installed as the 6/4 joint favourites after their respective semi-final victories, Kiltartan Chosen and Magical Eloise headed the market for the decider, and it was the former that made the early running. Breaking smartly from trap two, the Albert Mullins-trained runner disputed the lead with Poppys Oreo in five before asserting around the opening bend to seize control as he bid for a third career success. Magical Eloise, meanwhile, quickly overcame a tardy start, displaying tremendous pace to work her way into contention. Brickhill Dolly was also making eye-catching progress along the inside and the daughter of Grangeview Ten - Twentylittletoes soon found herself in a menacing position approaching the bottom two bends. Although Kiltartan Chosen still held the aces at this stage, he was becoming something of a sitting duck as both Magical Eloise and Brickhill Dolly loomed large entering the final bend. Brickhill Dolly had shaped like a greyhound capable of making her presence felt throughout the competition despite arriving in search of a first career success, and the 3/1 chance duly delivered. Turning the screw brilliantly upon straightening for home, she powered up the Galway hill to cross the line four lengths clear of the gallant Kiltartan Chosen, who lost little in defeat after another tremendous effort. Ozark Magic stayed on well to fill the podium places. The winning time of 29.11 .20s was a fitting conclusion to another terrific renewal of the Horan Family Syndicate 525, and sincere thanks must also go to the sponsors for their continued support of the competition.