SOCKOS LEAVES IT LATE AT SHELBOURNE PARK

Ian Fortune

Luminous Socks came late and fast to claim the feature at Shelbourne Park on Friday night, the €2,500 final of the RCÉ A3 525.

Saffron Mick set a strong galop but was always a sitting duck when Clona Blu found himself in the leader’s slipstream into the back straight.

Predictably, Clona Blue joined the leader into the third turn but couldn’t put the race to bed. All the while, Luminous Socks was recovering from a slow start and early traffic. Showing massive pace into the third turn, he moved from last spot to go third into the penultimate bend.

He was still a number of lengths back but was closing fast. Trained by Peter Cronin for Alex Antoniou and Peter Bennett, the son of Droopys Sydney and Luminous Fancy flew home to lead in the closing yards for a two length success over Old Fort Chicago in 29.09.  

ME HOPE LEAVES IT LATE

Mick and Kathleen English saw their Me Hope come out on top in a messy final of the This Runs Deep A4 525.

In a contest where many of the field had a say, Me Hope stayed on best to lead late for a three parts of a length victory in 29.62. 

NANNY IMPRESSES ON UNDERCARD

Elsewhere on the card there were some fine displays from the likes of Reckless Nanny, Ringthemoon, Leinster Leo and Glory Katy.

Reckless Nany set the standard in the semi finals of the Retired Greyhound Trust A2 Bitch 525. Dominating from the second turn, the Dolores Ruth trained prospect pulled right away to record a facile five length victory in 28.72. The other semi-final saw Ballintine Misty claim a narrow success by three parts of a length in 29.22. 

Leinster Leo set the standard in the RCETS A1 550, leading early to win the final heat for Eileen and Geoff Bateman. Always in charge, the son of Skywalker Farloe saw off the always second Daleroad Will in 30.09. Glory Kay was just one spot slower, posting 30.10, while Ringthemon recorded 30.15. The opening heat went to Cocooner in 30.44.