O’CONNELL JULIAN VETS TRI-DISTANCE ACTION HOTS UP AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

There was a quality card on offer at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and the results lived up to the billing with a number of sensational performances, particularly in the second round heats of the O’Connell Julian Vets Cashel Tri-Distance.

After some terrific 550-yard efforts in the opening round, the step up to the 575-yard distance was expected to produce some impressive clocks and it certainly didn’t disappoint as patrons were treated to special performances in each of the second round heats.

MINOR QUICKEST

The quickest of the four heats on offer came in the opener as County Minor picked up Turkish Delight in the closing stages. The latter was sent off as the even money favourite after a terrific opening round display and the December puppy looked home and hosed when rounding the opening turn in charge from trap two. However, County Minor failed to read the script as Gerard White and Pat Butler’s charge, who went off a 9/4 shot, improved at the midway point to go second and emerged a potent threat to Turkish Delight late on. Powering around the bottom bend, County Minor was now in full throttle and the son of Newinn Taylor and Humble Star was to come out the right side of a judge's call to win by a short-head from Turkish Delight in second. The time was a sensational 31.11.

CADET BACK TO HIS BEST

After a fine opening round display to indicate a return to top-form for Oakfront Cadet, Christopher and John Morrissey’s powerhouse made it back-to-back wins in superb style in heat three. Running from trap six, the even money favourite didn’t come away too fluently and he sat fourth at the opener as Young Tieran took up the running from Dazzes Beauts early on. Improving upon entrance to the back, Oakfornt Cadet now loomed large on his rivals and quickly asserted his authority at the sprint box to storm to the front. At this point, the writing was well and truly on the wall for his rivals. Drawing clear thereafter, the son of Belles Direction and Ferryforth Belle relished every yard of the trip as he claimed an eight and a half length success, in a scorching 31.13.

MAGIC FROM LEMON

In heat two, Lemon Magic was another to excel in the closing stages as he bounced back from his opening round defeat for joint owners Colin Rafter and Tom Lennon. Another who was only moderately into stride from trap four, the son of Magical Bale and Cats Belle sat in midfield early on as Toems Alice led. Rebel Spring was also showing fine speed after turning third and she was to take control at the penultimate turn to take her rivals into the home straight firmly in charge. However, Lemon Magic was going about his business in tidy fashion at this point and he began to turn the screw between the bottom two bends as he cut the deficit on the leader. Storming to the front late on, Lemon Magic was one and a half lengths too strong for Rebel Spring as he hugged the rails in the closing stages. The time was a swift 31.35.

BACK-TO-BACK FOR JACK

Whats Up Jack bounced back to winning ways in the opening round and he continued his assault at this valuable stake with another polished performance in heat four. The 6/4 second favourite in behind Puckane Player, Whats Up Jack broke well on the inside but was forced to play second fiddle early on as Rockanes Blake showed the best of the early gears in two. Setting a strong gallop down the back, the latter continued to dictate, however, Whats Up Jack was keeping tabs on the leader as he drew closer at the halfway mark. At this point, the Padriag O’Lore-trained black was in familiar territory and the son of Candlelight King and Balance Sheet stormed to the front on the approach to the penultimate turn. Maintained a surging gallop on the long run home, Whats Up Jack was to emerge a two and a half length winner over Rockanes Blake in second. The time was a fast 31.39.

BECCA BEAMS IN GOBA BITCH DECIDER

Elsewhere on the card, there were two Limerick & Clare GOBA stakes up for grabs and there was a very popular winner of the Bitch stake as the Corona Ryan-owned Beaming Becca justified favouritism.

A bitch who is capable of doing it both ways, Beaming Becca is a class act on her day and as such, she was installed as the 8/13 favourite to land the spoils. Running from trap five, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Beechgrove Bell came away well and disputed early on before shipping a hefty bump at the opener which forced her to reset in fourth. Sitting in midfield at this point, Mohane Maggie was in control out in front, however, Beaming Becca was soon on her recovery mission as she improved into third while coursing around the outside of her rivals. Now in top gear, Beaming Becca looked a huge threat rounding the bottom two bends, despite Mohane Maggie continuing to assert, and the stout stayer finished with a wet sail to power around the outside and claim victory. Crossing the line with one length to spare over Boherduff Susie, the time was 29.01.

LASS LANDS A5/A6 STAKE

In the final of the A5/A6 Limerick & Clare GOBA 525, Seaport Lass maintained her unbeaten run through the stake with a narrow win.

Owned by James O’Sullivan and trained by Pat O’Connell, Seaport Lass was sent to traps as the 4/6 favourite after posting sub 29-second runs in the rounds prior. Running from trap one, Seaport Lass missed the kick from red and she was forced to sit third early on as Carrigmore Jolly led the field into the opening bend. Improving to second down the back, Seaport Lass looked a big threat at the halfway mark and the daughter of Bull Run Bolt and Hazelhill Tess soon loomed alongside Ontheholding rounding the penultimate turn. Still nip and tuck between the pair, a close finish saw Seaport Lass prevail from the fast-finishing Bettyville Rocky in second. One length clear of her rival crossing the line, the time was 29.12.