SUPERB DISPLAYS IN FUTURE CHAMPION

    SUPERB DISPLAYS IN FUTURE CHAMPION

    Ian Fortune

    The second round of the Future Champion and Michael Fortune Memorial Open Unraced again provided some outstanding racing at Enniscorthy on Monday evening.

    Many of those involved improved on their opening round performances, leaving little between the fastest and slowest heat winners on the clock.

    OPERA GOES FASTEST

    In fact, just 16 spots separated the four heat winners with Priceless Romeo having the honour of going fastest for Paul Hennessy and Bryan and Kathleen Murphy.

    The son of Priceless Jet and Priceless Opera was sent to traps a 1-2 favourite and he duly obliged but only after showing fine determination to get the better of early pace-setter Ciaras Treasure before holding the late charge of Lady Babylon.

    Priceless Opera flew into the turn after a slow start to go second before taking over on the third turn. Lady Babylon stayed on strongly to close on the run in but Priceless Opera held on by a half length in 28.90. Ciaras Treasure would finish a further length and a half adrift in third. 

    CLIFFORD TOO HOT TO HANDLE

    After impressing last week, Altesse Clifford went even faster in the second round, winning the opening heat in dominant fashion for Jack Finn.

    The 2-5 favourite quickly shot into a clear advantage on the inside of the track before emerging a facile winner. The son of Ballymac Bolger and Tip Top Ariel would see off Toker Hillside by ten lengths in 28.98. Kiltrea Abbey was another two and a half lengths further back.

    LEVI GETS LOOSE

    Boylesports Gold was a hot favourite to win Heat 2 but he walker from traps and could never land a blow.

    In contrast, Ballinabola Levi got room to race into the turn from three. Sweet Solera and Gymstar Pi both went up strongly from four and five but Ballinabola Levi had the inside line in his favour at the corner.

    Moving to the front at this point, Brendan Murphy’s son of Deerjet Sydney and Ballinabola Rum would make every inch thereafter. Staying on strongly, Ballinabola Levi would go on to beat Sweet Solera and Gymstar Pi by two and a half lengths and two lengths in 29.04. 

    JET-POWERED

    Happy Jet made it two wins from two in the last of the four heats, staying on strongly to pick up Unattached in the closing yards.

    Burgess Hazel set the standard last week but couldn’t match the aforementioned duo into the turn, cutting for the fence from trap four.

    She was only fifth into the bend and could never get close enough to worry the leaders. Unattached, despite moving off the fence, led the field around the opening two bends but, ultimately, the Pat Buckley trained Happy Jet was to close in second.

    Owned jointly by Tom Quinn and Ned Morrissey, Happy Jet closed on the leaders into the third turn before making his move on the run in. Staying on well, Happy Jet would see off Unattached by three parts of a length in 29.06. Burgess Hazel ran on well to finish two and a half lengths further back in third.