DRUMNAFERN BALOR LANDS NORTHWEST HONOURS

Peter Farrell

The final of the Northwest Greyhound Supplies A3/A4 525 took centre stage at Lifford Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and, after producing one of the standout performances of the semi-finals, Drumnafern Balor confirmed that display was no fluke with a thoroughly professional success in the €2,500-to-the-winner decider.

The son of Orchestrate and Highview Honour had advertised his credentials with a dominant nine-length semi-final victory and duly built on that performance to hand Eugene Skeffington a notable sweepstake success.

As expected, there was plenty of pace on show in the opening exchanges. Drumnafern Balor broke smartly from trap four but was headed on the run-up by Pharis Syd, who handled the opening bend much better than he had in the semi-finals and quickly turned a neck advantage into a lead of a length and a half heading down the back straight. Further behind, Brocks Your Man was showing eye-catching pace to move into contention, but Drumnafern Balor was travelling strongly in second and began to turn the screw approaching the bottom two bends. Skeffington's charge rapidly closed on the leader before ranging alongside entering the home straight. Showing the same exceptional stamina that had underpinned his semi-final success, he forged clear passing the 550-yard box to score by one and three-quarter lengths. The winning time was a fast 29.01 on a track rated 20 slow, confirming the considerable talent he had displayed throughout the competition.

Congratulations are extended to Eugene Skeffington and all the winning connections on a thoroughly deserved success. Credit must also go to Northwest Greyhound Supplies and Robert Brolly for their continued sponsorship of a competition that once again produced an excellent standard of racing.