BONNY QUICKEST ON CLONEA BENEFIT NIGHT AT CLONMEL

BONNY QUICKEST ON CLONEA BENEFIT NIGHT AT CLONMEL

Peter Farrell

A large crowd turned out at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium last night as the track hosted a benefit night in aid of Clonea Camogie Club and there were several very nice displays on show which added to the occasion.

Of the nine races down for decision on the night, the fastest in terms of the clock came in race seven, the Village Bar A2/A3, as Aghaburren Bonny made it back-to-back wins. Owned by Mossy O’Leary, this bitch is a really talented sort and last night’s victory made it five career wins as she led from trap to line. Fast into stride from trap three, Aghaburren Bonny was joined early on bySpringfield Oreo but the former displayed the superior early gears to see off her rival at the opener. Holding a lead of a couple of lengths down the back, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Aghaburren Model never looked like surrendering her advantage and despite the best efforts of the fast-finishing Tarsna Soda in second, she held strong to cross the line with one and a half lengths to spare. The time was the fastest of the night, 28.68.

NOTHING THICK ABOUT PLANK

There was one other performer to dip under the 29-second barrier on the night and this came in the concluding contest which was the Shay Power A4 525.

Sent to traps the well-supported 4/5 favourite, Two Short Planks was expected to prove a tough nut to crack and he justified his pricetag with a dominant display in the last. Running from trap two, the Sarah Taylor-owned brindle came away like the wind and as he drifted middle in the early exchanges, he swung the opening turn to take a clear lead into the back straight. From here, the Kim Taylor-trained son of Ballymac Best and Ina Heartbeat drew clear of his rivals and he stayed on strong to cross the line with over seven lengths in hand from Loskeran Ronaldo in second. The time was 28.93.

IN OTHER RACES

Purple Sarah got favourite backers off to a flier in the opener race of the night as Mary Egan’s runner landed the Noel O’Donnell Electrical 525. Despite a poor enough break from trap five, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Steely Dynasty showed fine early gears to lead around the opener and she kept on well to deny Killee East by one and a half lengths. The time was 29.94.

Race two was the CET Connect 525 and it was 5/4 favourite Flomur Romeo (Ballymac Best - Flour Roisin) who landed the spoils for owner Patrick Murphy. Another who made no mistake at traprise, Romeo’s red jacket was first to show and he broke his maiden tag in good style thereafter, seeing off Eskvale Weeman by one and a half lengths at the line. The time was 29.33.

The Buckley Bulls Sprint was next on the agenda in race three and 6/4 joint favourite Knockroe Sky came out the right side for his owner Eamonn Lloyd. A winner last time out over track and trip, the son of Monadreen Sky and Knockroe Heather didn’t come away too well from five but benefited from the wide-running Mantlehill Boy to nip up the inside and take control. A one length winner over Graceful Ali at the line, the time was 17.05.

Race four saw the Donovan Transport Novice 525 go down for decision and it was the Paraic Campion-trained Chestnut King who got his career off to the best possible start. The 5/4 jolly at the off, the January 21’ son of Good News and Redzer Ruby was only moderately away from trap one but he showed good early pace to nip around just a length adrift of Ashwood Pestana. Jointly owned by Tony and Raymond Bennett, Chestnut King made his move at the penultimate turn as he stormed to the front and he stayed on well thereafter to record a two and a half length win over Ashwood Pestana in second. The time was 29.28.

The favourites kept on winning in race five which was the Comeragh Vet 525 as Circus Storm scored at odds of 5/4. Owned by Michael Ryan, Circus Storm came away racing from trap four to lead early and despite the best efforts of Eskvale Brid, who challenged late, the daughter of Ballymac Vic and Optimistic Misty stayed firm to claim a half length victory. The time was 29.69.

The 1st Class Castle sprint was next up and this saw 7/4 favourite Dark And Sharp (Laughil Blake - Tuco Lily) race to a seventh career victory. Owned by Nigel Quinn, Dark And Sharp came away like a rocket from trap five and he held a narrow lead into the opening corner from Slaneyside Steve in second. Nip and tuck between the duo thereafter, Dark And Sharp pulled out all the stops to see off his rival by one length. The time was 16.60.

The David Carroll Haulage 525 was race eight on the card and 5/4 favourite Freedom Odin landed the spoils for owner Denis Ryan. Only a January 21’ whelp, Freedom Odin looked to have plenty on his plate as Barra Leo led by four lengths down the back. However, the son of Good News and Freedom Dream rallied around the bottom two bends and he flew up the inside of Barra Leo to claim a one and a half length victory. The time was 29.51.