PAUL MCKENNA MEMORIAL REACHES SEMI FINAL STAGES AT GALWAY

Peter Farrell

It’s been a busy time at Galway in recent months and they will host another excellent card later tonight, headlined by the semi finals of the Paul McKenna Memorial 525.

Kindly sponsored by Vincent McKenna, the opening semi final will see the Patrick Guilfoyle-trained Magical Be Nifty go to traps a warm favourite and that is understandable after a fast 29.01 .10s effort last time out. On that occasion, the daughter of Droopys Jet – Magical Poppy blitzed her rivals by nine lengths and she has been rewarded with a brilliant draw in red. It’s difficult to oppose the June pup on that basis, however, should she slip-up, the improving Orbsen Fixit looks the most likely to pick up the pieces. Just a pocket-sized 53-pounder, she is a winner of two from eight and she flew home last weekend to record a solid 29.35.

In the second semi, it follows a similar trend with Flyers Penney expected to take plenty of stopping for Colm Fitzgerald and the Flyers-Racing-Syndicate. This lady has won five of her six starts and most recently, recorded a runaway twelve and a half length victory in 29.21 .10s. On that evidence, she should bring up her half-dozen with ease and is well-drawn in trap two. Her chief rival would appear to be Grangeview Icon, who made eye-catching ground up last time out. That said, he has plenty to find on the clock.

NOVICE SPRINT ACTION

Aside from the four-bend action, there will also be three second round heats of the Galway Unraced ON2/3 350.

In heat one, it’s difficult to look past Drombeg Bucko, who won in 19.35 .5s on debut. That is a serious effort from Evan McAuliffe’s September pup and he could prove one for the future.

Heat two looks like a shoot-out between Crafty Moirai and Cascade Thor. Both won impressively on debut; however, the inside line gives preference to ‘Crafty’ and he gets the nod to maintain his unbeaten start.

Clonearl Flyer was another encouraging first round winner when posting a swift 19.24 .5s and the Vincent McKenna-trained runner is the one to beat in heat three. Drawn in five, he looks to have buckets of ability and can see off the likes over Brickhill Mia in two.