BOLGER BELIES HIS ODDS TO WIN KILKENNY A3

Ian Fortune

Burgess Bolger may have been the 12-1 rank outsider in the final of the Kilkenny Track A3 on Friday night but there was nothing lucky about his victory as he laned the €5,000 prize in some style.

The key to the race was the fast start of Ballintee Noshow from the outside box. Edging inwards, he left Droopys Annalise and the 5-4 favourite Short Notice with little room to maneouvre in the opening yards.

Instead, Burgess Bolger, from trap three, was his nearest rival into the turn. At that, even Burgess Bolger had to check on the corner as Ballintee Noshow continued to edge to the fence. Burgess Bolger quickly regained his momentum, however.

Sheila Spillane and JJ Fennelly’s charge was just over two lengths adrift into the back straight with Graigues Bubbly on his inner, a further length adrift. The race was now on. Ballintee Noshow continued to set the pace into the third turn but Burgess Bolger was clearly readying himself for a big challenge on the run in.

Just a length down at the third turn, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Clear Mountain was within a half length as they hit the final bend. Staying on well, the January ’21 whelp came through in the final yards to claim a deserving success by a length in 29.09. Ballintee Noshow ran a fine race in second with Graigues Bubbly staying on well in third, just a length adrift.