OISIN SEALS HAT-TRICK IN ANN CHEEVERS SECOND ROUND

Peter Farrell

The second round heats of the €1,500 to the winner Ann Cheevers Memorial A5 525 were the feature on last night’s Galway card and it was Gortkelly Oisin who followed up on his first round victory as he went fastest of the second round heat winners.

Owned by Andrew Murray, Gortkelly Oisin won his opening round assignment in 29.37 .20s and as such, he was installed the 6/4 favourite to make it back-to-back wins at Galway track. Rocketing from trap one, the son of Shaneboy Lee and Gortkelly Lola proved a class above his rivals as his red jacket stormed into the opening turn in charge. From here, it was a straightforward night’s work for the talented black as he galloped to a seven length victory over nearest rival, Mr Quiz Answer, in second. The time was 29.10 .20s.

Next best in terms of the clock came in heat three as Fast Fit Drop also backed up his opening round win for John Quinn and Declan McDonagh. An even money shot at the off, Fast Fit Drop didn’t come away too fluently from trap one, however, he took charge at the opening turn and he produced a masterclass of front-running thereafter. Setting a strong gallop throughout, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Fast Fit Maeve stayed on strongly in the closing stages to cross the line seven and a half lengths clear, in a time of 29.20 .20s.

In the opening heat of the night, When We Dream broke her maiden tag at the fourth time of asking as she justified her even money favouritism for the We-Go-At-It-Syndicate. Trained by Patrick Norris, the daughter of Confident Rankin and Tibet was slowly into stride wearing the white jacket and she was forced to settle for a spot in midfield early on. However, making steady progress throughout, When We Dream relished every yard of the trip as she stayed on strongly to win by half a length from Lexis Cleo in second. The time was 29.32 .20s.

ARROW HEADS A MURRAY DOUBLE

Elsewhere on the card, there was a nice double for the kennel of Stephen Murray as both Arrowhead and Pigeons Nest crossed over in front.

In the opening race of the night it was Pigeons Nest who made it back-to-back wins for Eleanor Hackett. Running from trap six, the fawn went to traps a 6/4 shot and she sat in third early on after a moderate break on the outer. However, despite sitting six lengths adrift down the back straight, she stepped it up a notch from the penultimate bend home and the daughter of Ballymac Eske and Playmistyforme flew across the line to see off Crimson Blue by a length and a half. The time was 29.51 .20s.

The double was completed in race nine as Arrowhead ran out an easy winner for Kevin Ryan. A 6/4 shot at the off, the son of Pat C Sabbath and Krystalise broke well from trap four and once in front, Arrowhead was never in danger of being caught. Drawing clear down the back, Murray’s charge dominated proceedings as he romped to an eight length victory, in a time of 29.06 .20s.