BIG LOCAL SUCCESS FOR THE O’REILLY’S AS MONTANA SECRET DELIVERS A TOP CLASS PERFORMANCE

Barry Drake

Montana Secret (Signet Ace-Droopys Alice), trained by Johnny Linehan for owners Barry and Martin O’Reilly, ran out a popular local winner of the €3,500 to the winner David Fitzgibbon Memorial Open final at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

In what was a superb event, the 6-4 favourite picked the right night to shed his maiden status. Bockos Gold was almost three quarters of a length in front heading into the opening corner, but the winner had the inside line and he drove a fantastic opening corner to lead. In the process, he did Bockos no favours and the big local runner displayed big pace on the back straight to take control. Keeping on well up front, the Montana runner came home five and a half lengths clear of Droopys Croia, who is also trained by Linehan. The O’Reilly family are longtime supporters of greyhound racing in Cork and this was a popular local success. The May ‘24 whelp has a big future ahead.

In the third, the €1,000 to the winner Noel Dwyer Memorial Stake final, Glenfinn Paddy (Burgess Bucks-Sovetsky) delivered a fine performance to win from the rails pitch for Killian Cronin and Kevin Barry. The well-backed 2-1 winner led early, strong in front, the powerful running winner came home five and a half lengths clear of Rosebank Ben, in 28.89.

In race six, an A0, Sure Exile (Broadstrand Bono-Glowing Exile) came from well off the pace to beat the fast starting Princess Rosie. Owned and trained by Andrew Lynch, the 2-1 winner clocked 28.60, two lengths clear of the big early pacer.

In the opener, Super Syd (Deerjet Sydney-Glenadda Annie) scored in style. Sent off a very generous 5-4 favourite, the impressive winner took a flyer from trap one and with trouble in behind, he was soon clear of the field. A superb 28.26 winning performance, 15 lengths clear of A Rest, winning for David Harrington and Vincent Browne.

In the second, an A1, it looked a gifted opportunity for Faypoint Harvey (Droopys Sydney-Roaming Shari) and the 2-7 favourite made no mistakes from
the inside of the track. Trained by Graham Holland for Patricia Flanagan, it was all one way traffic up front, winning in 28.22, nine and a half lengths clear of Killavullen Jet.

Race four, an A2, went the way of Mister Myles (Burgess Bucks-An Cailin Alainn) for Ross Myles and the Clonmel Five Syndicate. The 5-2 winner took a flyer from the outside and once he led around, he was soon in total control. Da Little Jet flew home to get within three quarters of a length, in 30.01. (550).

The closing race, an AA0, went the way of Carrigeen Whit (Ballymac Best- Carrigeen Wren) for trainer Thomas Buggy and owner Ann Patterson. In front early, the 3-1 winner displayed impressive early gears and she kept on well to beat the running-on Timmys Bucks, by a length, in 28.37.

In the fifth, Bridevalley Max (Kilara Icon-Maid Me County) completed a hat trick of straight successes when winning the S0-S1 for Margaret O’Herlihy. The 4-1 shot stopped the clock in 17.81, five and a half lengths clear of Ya No Ya.