ANY MEANS LANDS LORD SEMI AT ENNISCORTHY

Ian Fortune

The re-run semi-final of the Lord Unraced went the way of Any Means at Enniscorthy on Monday night.

A 6-1 chance ahead of the race, the son of Ballymac Best and Mrs Boss produced a superb run to come out on top for Patsy and Sheila Morrissey.

The rank outsider Ballinabola Kiki shot from traps to lead in the early yards but was quickly swallowed up by Any Means and Seamount King. After his unlucky turn the previous week, Elite Blastoff suffered further bad luck, stumbling from traps and losing all hope of victory.

Instead, Any Means ran a good bend to contain Seamount King and this set up a tremendous finish with Bombay Hawk joining the front two. Any Means hit halfway with almost two lengths in hand but things got much tighter as they turned for home.

By this point Seamount King was on the heels of the leader while Bombay Hawk was motoring in third after coming from lengths back. The trio continued to give their all to the line with the verdict going the way of Any Means. The December ’23 whelp held off his two rivals by a neck in 28.93. The judge couldn’t separate Bombay Hawk and Seamount King, declaring a dead-heat for second.

BLAZE ON FIRE

There were a number of good runs on the undercard, including a 28.72 return from Karlow Blaze in the Track Development A1/2 final.

Owned by the JMH Syndicate, the son of Ballymac Best made all after a fast start to hold the big finish of Cushie Flytplan by three parts of a length.

A CUSHIE RUN FROM DIXON

Thomas Codd’s Cushie Dixon had earlier won the Track Development A6 decider.

Displaying fine acceleration into the turn, the son of Droopys Flytline struck the front early before going on to beat Ballybreen Zeta by four lengths in 29.06.

SHY TOO STRONG

Cant Be Shy took her chance in the final of the Track Development A4, racing prominently from the outset before going to the front on the third turn.

Thomas O’Rourke’s daughter of Ballyhimikin Jet and Rahale Stitch stuck on gamely to contain the late challenge of Ballinabola Lala by three parts of a length in 29.08.

STRIPE BUDDY ARRIVES LATE

Anton Butler was on the mark in the final of the Track Development A5 with Stripe Buddy.

Only third into the back straight, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Gareths Star moved second into the third turn before making up four lengths on the long-time leader James Runaway. Staying on well, Stripe Buddy struck the front on the run in to win by three quarters of a length in 29.44.

BOLA BRINGS DOWN THE CURTAIN

Racing ended with Michael Galway’s Misterin Bola emerging a good winner of the Track Development A3 575.

Making the most of an ideal draw on the fence, the son of Ballymac Best and Ballinabola Mia charged to the front into the bend and proceeded to make all to see off Marions Bingo by four and a half lengths in 31.75.