ACE QUICKEST IN MARTIN FAHY OPENER, KISMET SETS THE HORAN FAMILY STANDARD

Peter Farrell

An action-packed weekend continued at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night as the opening round heats of both the Horan Family Syndicate 525 and the Martin Fahy Memorial 525 took centre stage.

The spotlight fell on the four opening round heats of the Martin Fahy Memorial and it was Deadly Ace, owned by Gary Hannon and trained by Karol Ramsbottom, who set the standard. The promising youngster had won on debut at Kilkenny in a smart 29.48 .30s and, despite failing to add to that success in two subsequent starts, had met with enough excuses to warrant strong market support. Sent off the 4/7 favourite, Deadly Ace was drawn in five and was forced to bide his time behind Bettyville Coco in the early exchanges. However, he displayed eye-catching pace down the back straight to loom large approaching the three-quarter mark before sweeping into the lead. From there, the son of Signet Ace - My Little Ivy asserted impressively to score by three lengths from Kerryroad Fancy in 29.37 .20s. On the basis of the performance, he looks to have plenty up his sleeve going forward.

Heat Watch

Heat 2 - Hanover John also justified favouritism in the second heat as Leeanne Fleming’s charge landed a third career success at even-money. A two-bend winner on his previous outing, the son of Hanover Sky - Headford Laura was tackling four bends for the first time and adapted well. Drawn in red, he found himself chasing Light and Leafy in the early stages, but the race turned at the opening bend when the leader moved off, allowing Hanover John to shoot through on the inside and open up a three-length advantage. Charming Ciara closed with every stride in the latter stages, but Hanover John always had enough in reserve to prevail by half a length in 29.59 .20s.

Heat 3 - Evan McAuliffe was on the scoresheet in the third heat as React Jess doubled her career tally with a determined display. Sent off a 7/2 chance, the daughter of Grangeview Ten - Meduza was only moderately into stride from trap four and encountered traffic at the opening bend. Slick Harry, meanwhile, showed excellent early pace to establish a commanding lead down the back and looked set for victory. However, the field began to bunch entering the home straight and React Jess finished with a powerful flourish, storming up the Galway hill to deny Slick Harry by a neck in 29.61 .20s.

Heat 4 - Alison Coxon was again among the winners as Hollywell Flint brought the opening round to a close with an eighth career success in heat four. The 5/2 chance made full use of his inside draw with a sharp exit from trap one to seize control in the opening strides. The son of Pat C Sabbath - Hollywell Honey opened a two-length advantage over Pierview Big Rob heading down the back, although Ballyea Marshall emerged as a serious danger as he closed rapidly approaching the penultimate bend. Hollywell Flint refused to yield, however, finding plenty when it mattered most to score by two lengths from Ballyea Warrior in 29.45 .20s.

*****

KISMET QUICKEST IN HORAN FAMILY OPENER

Prior to that, the opening round heats of the Horan Family Syndicate 525 got underway and it was Rockmount Kismet that emerged as the fastest of the three heat winners, although only after coming out on the right side of a judge's decision.

Owned by Shane Flanagan, Rockmount Kismet was bidding to shed her maiden tag at the sixth attempt but faced a stiff task after Kiltartan Chosen showed electric early pace to open up a five-length advantage down the back straight. However, 'Kismet' displayed tremendous determination and began to reel in the leader around the bottom two bends. With Kiltartan Chosen beginning to tire in the closing stages, the daughter of Dromana Bucko - Coronation finished with a powerful surge up the Galway hill to snatch victory by a short head on the line. It was a thoroughly likeable display and the clock stopped at 29.41 .20s.

In the second heat, Lady Belford provided owner Michael Keating with a first career success as the lightly-raced youngster justified strong market support. Just a February '25 whelp, the 7/4 chance broke smartly from trap five and quickly established a two-length lead heading down the back. Setting a strong gallop throughout, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat - Pats Angela maintained her advantage all the way to the line, pulling three and a half lengths clear of Heathlawn Pest in 29.75 .20s.

The concluding heat saw Pierview Pearl (Ballymac Best - Pierview Honey) cause a 4/1 upset by lowering the colours of even-money favourite Brickhill Dolly. Owned by Mairtin Seoighe, Pierview Pearl broke sharply from trap two and quickly seized control, opening a commanding five-length advantage down the back straight. Brickhill Dolly had plenty to do turning for home but finished strongly to move into second. However, the damage was already done by Pierview Pearl, who held on comfortably to score by two lengths in 29.94 .20s.