BALLYCOWEN ARCHY QUICKEST IN OPENING ROUND OF A1 KASKO DERBY

Barry Drake

BALLYCOWEN ARCHY (Ballymac Cashout-Peckies Flyer) set the standard in the opening round of the €6,000 to the winner A1 Kasko Derby at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

The 4-1 shot broke well from trap two, but it was Callaway Danny who displayed the best early speed to storm around the opening corners in front. He kicked a couple of lengths clear down the back straight, with the Ballycowen runner running well in second. 

It all changed from the turns for home as the eye was drawn to Ballycowen Archy and the impressive winner dug deep in the closing stages to land the spoils. A length the margin, in 28.42. Three and a half lengths back to Priceless On Ice in third.

The opening heat was all about Cracking Cody (Serene Ace-Flaming Sahara) for trainer Paul Hennessy and owners Gerry and Miriam Meaney. 

The 3-1 winner overcame the tricky draw in trap five to score. Cutting in early on, he just made the corner in front, and he quickly put the race to bed up front. All one-way traffic at the head of affairs, Cracking Cody clocked 28.63, six and a half lengths clear of Happy Me.

Air Hostess (Callaway Pro Am-Please Poppy) landed the opening heat for Brian Loughnane. The 4-1 winner produced a quick start from trap three, and she was in front early on. 

Missouri Ice briefly took up the running, but the impressive winner was brave, battling back to lead, she went on to win in great style. A 28.63 winning run, six and a half lengths clear of Ivo.

In the closing heat, Noon Ballad (Roaming Turbo-Burgess Madam) caught the eye when winning for the kennel of Kieran Lynch. 

Owned by Eoin Ivers and Fintan Lawlor, the 6-4 favourite came away well from trap two, but it was Let Fly Missy who took them along up front. Hitting the front midway down the back straight, the strong-running winner had all the answers up front.

 A 28.59 winning display, three lengths clear of Patterdale Timmy. A length and a half back to Sleedagh Charm in third.

Elsewhere on the card, In The Sunset (Jacob Tashadelek-Droopys Lagoon) showed all sorts of speed when winning race eight, an A0 contest. 

The 5-1 outsider had caught the eye in recent runs, and this was a performance of the highest order when winning from trap three. Tracking well around the opening turns, the powerful winner displayed huge back straight speed to lead. Staying on well up front, the classy winner came home two lengths clear of Shutinthedark, in 28.47.