FOXROCK BOB UPSETS THE ODDS IN SORLEY O’DORNAN DECIDER

Peter Farrell

There was a healthy €2,250 on offer as the final of the Sorley O’Dornan Memorial A3/A4 525 concluded at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium on Sunday night and it certainly didn’t go to script as 11/1 chance Foxrock Bob landed the spoils.

Kindly sponsored by the friends and Family of Sorley O’Dornan, this competition has produced top-quality action and Young Tiernan had dominated the stake prior to the decider. A tricky draw in six however, had thrown the valuable showpiece wide-open and it was in fact Foxrock Bob that took his chance in brilliant style for Canice Hyland.

A massive 11/1 chance heading into the decider, ‘Bob’ broke well from a perfect draw in red and he raced into the opening corner with only Chief Sydney in his sights. The aforementioned is known for his fast starts and Kevin McLean’s tracker displayed fine early dash to dictate proceedings. A tightly knit pack progressed into the opening corner however, and this resulted in a traffic-ensued bend and Chief Sydney did extremely well to ride the bump and continue his assault on the final. Meanwhile, the inside draw proved decisive for the chances of Foxrock Bob and he chased Chief Sydney into the back straight, just two lengths adrift in second. Showing huge pace at this point, the son of Magical Bale and Airmount Tess loomed alongside Chief Sydney and the writing was very much on the wall entering the penultimate turn. Taking charge of the decider, Foxrock Bob maintained a solid gallop thereafter and despite the fast-finishing exploits of Lucky Lane in second, ‘Bob’ held firm to cross the line one and a half lengths clear of his rival. The time was 28.92.