GALWAY TAKE COMMAND IN INTERTRACK CHALLENGE

GALWAY TAKE COMMAND IN INTERTRACK CHALLENGE

Peter Farrell

The opening leg of the Limerick v Galway Intertrack Challenge featured on Saturday night’s card at Limerick and, of the five contests on offer, the Connacht venue claimed four victories to establish a commanding advantage ahead of next weekend’s return leg.

Limerick did have the final say, however, as Boozed Wish produced the fastest performance of the night for Paraic Campion and Gary Pepper. The 7/2 chance prevailed in a thrilling three-way photo-finish, stopping the clock in a rapid 28.40.

Drawn in four, the son of Ballymac Cashout - Road Queen arrived on the back of a narrow defeat at Clonmel and made his intentions clear with a good start, posting a 1.28 sectional to quickly outpace his rivals on the run-up. Opening up a three-length advantage into the back straight, Boozed Wish looked home and hosed as Lissatouk Sydney and Stickwithme gave chase. However, the Galway pair began to close rapidly inside the final fifty yards and Campion’s charge was forced to pull out all the stops. He duly held firm, with just two necks separating the trio at the line. The time of 28.40 was the fastest of the Intertrack contests and indeed the night overall.

Points = Galway 13 - Limerick 15

The opening Intertrack contest went the way of Petes Noah, who will enter veteran status next month, as he ran out an impressive winner for Peter Russell and Donal Duggan. Chasing a sixteenth career success, the son of Burgess Bucks - Notimetotalk was headed early by Asiam Magic and entered the back straight three lengths adrift in second. The 4/1 chance began to close approaching the penultimate bend before powering clear around the bottom two turns. From there, Petes Noah stormed up the Limerick hill to cross the line five lengths clear of Hail Mary in 29.23.

Points = Galway 17 - Limerick 11

Galway struck again in the A3 Intertrack 525 as Confused Kiely emerged a game 4/1 winner for owner Gerry Manley. Bidding to bring up his sixth career victory, ‘Kiely’ broke well from trap two to track Lemon Arnold into the back straight before taking charge shortly afterwards. Lissatouk Robbie threw down a strong challenge late on, but the son of Magical Bale - Lavan Fairy showed excellent determination to fend off his rival by a neck in 28.91. It proved a clean sweep for Galway here with Westwood Jenson finishing in third.

Points = Galway 22 - Limerick 6

The A2 contest also went Galway’s way as Rosshill Ciara completed a hat-trick of victories for Joe Long.

A 3/1 chance, the daughter of Grangeview Ten - Marley Star was paw-perfect at traprise, breaking smartly from four to lead on the run-up and close the door on Highview Elegant. Holding a three-length advantage approaching the three-quarter mark, Rosshill Ciara swung wide off the final bend but had enough in reserve to repel Highview Elegant by three-parts of a length. The time was a fast 28.71.

Galway 17 - Limerick 11

The remaining Intertrack contest was an A1 event and Galway again prevailed, this time courtesy of Company Man for Michael Keating. Defending a recent victory, the 9/4 joint-favourite broke well from trap six to dispute early before Code Four took the field into the back straight. Company Man was making rapid headway when forced to check at the penultimate bend, but that setback failed to deter the son of Grangeview Ten. Rallying strongly on the run for home, Company Man got up in the dying strides to deny Code Four by a neck in 28.97.

Galway 18 - Limerick 10

With four of the five opening-leg contests going their way, Galway will head home firmly in the driving seat. The Tribal County holds a commanding 87-53 advantage, leaving Limerick with something of a mountain to climb when the Intertrack Challenge resumes at Galway next weekend.

Intertrack Challenge Points System

Finishing Position

Points

1st

10

2nd

7

3rd

5

4th

3

5th

2

6th

1