DENIRO DELIVERS A BOX-OFFICE LEGER PERFORMANCE

Peter Farrell

All eyes were on the six second-round heats of the 1XBet Irish St. Leger 550 at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and it proved a special night indeed, as Ballymac Deniro produced a sensational track-record-breaking performance for Liam Dowling.

While connections were dealt a major blow earlier in the week with the withdrawal of outright market leader Ballymac Setanta, the performance of Ballymac Deniro provided the perfect tonic as he dismantled his rivals to shave a length off the previous track record, held since 2019 by Jaytee Taylor. Aside from that phenomenal display, Graham Holland accounted for three of the six heat winners, including Irish Derby champion Bockos Gold, while Michael J. O'Donovan and Pat Buckley also got in on the act with one winner apiece.

There is only one place to start, however, and that is with the sensational display of Ballymac Deniro in heat two. A winner of his opening-round assignment in 29.78, Dowling's charge was installed as the 15/8 second favourite behind Wi Can James (7/4) and, despite a modest break out wide, his early pace was a sight to behold as he powered around the outside, narrowly avoiding both Swords Diamond and Slippery Felix at the opening bend. Now in command, 'Deniro' quickly established a two-length advantage over Swords Diamond and maintained a blistering gallop to the three-quarter mark, where the latter was making little impression on the leader. With Dowling's star clearly travelling with purpose, a fast clock looked inevitable at this stage and he stayed on in exemplary fashion to cross the line three lengths clear of last week's quickest performer, Swords Diamond, with Slippery Felix sealing third. The time was a scarcely believable 29.14, smashing the previous track record and firmly establishing Ballymac Deniro as the one to beat in this year's Classic.

HOLLAND LANDS SECOND ROUND TREBLE

Bockos Gold lined out in the curtain-raiser for round two and the Derby-winning powerhouse maintained his bid for back-to-back Classics with a powerful display to reel in the gallant Bills Harbour.

Graham Holland’s star was installed as the 11/8 favourite and was quickest into stride from trap three, posting a slick 2.78 sectional. However, he was immediately joined by Bills Harbour on his inside, who showed big early speed to slip up the rails and take a slender lead into the back straight. With just a length separating the pair, and Solo And Go also in contention, it remained a tightly contested affair as Bills Harbour continued to keep his rivals at bay approaching the home straight. At this point, Bockos Gold was beginning to turn the screw and, given the exceptional finishing power of the son of Coolavanny Hoffa, there was an air of inevitability as the winning line loomed large. Powering past his rival in the closing yards, 'Gold' quickly opened a length-and-a-half advantage over Bills Harbour, with Solo And Go a further two lengths adrift in third. The winning time was a rapid 29.60.

The double was up for Holland in heat three as Highbury Days also struck late to draw clear of his rivals in impressive fashion.

Owned by Sheila Mannix, Highbury Days was a 4/1 chance in the market and was made to work hard as Drombeg King and Droopys Winsome disputed the early running. With the former quickly taking control, Evan McAuliffe’s charge opened a three-length advantage down the back straight, however, Highbury Days was beginning to make serious inroads at this point, powering past Droopys Winsome before joining Drombeg King at the penultimate bend. Sweeping around the outside of the leader, the son of Ballymac Finn – Ballymac Arminta, a full brother to track-record breaker Ballymac Deniro, took off in the closing stages to draw clear of his rivals. Staying on powerfully, Highbury Days crossed the line five lengths clear of Droopys Winsome, who rallied to claim second, while Drombeg King secured the remaining qualifying position. The winning time was a very impressive 29.70.

The treble was completed in the concluding heat as Roaming Shelby maintained his unbeaten record in the Classic with another commanding display for Seamus Hagan and Paul Ellis.

Sent off as the 10/11 favourite, Roaming Shelby was a brilliant winner of his opening-round assignment and once again took the initiative from the outset, pinging from trap two to lead Hackney Plan on the run-up. Extending his advantage to three lengths passing the sprint boxes, the son of Tommy Shelby – Roaming Shari was well on his way to a third consecutive victory for connections. With Hackney Plan giving chase and Grangeview Rocko beginning to make inroads in third, the battle was now firmly for the qualifying positions as Roaming Shelby maintained his relentless gallop all the way to the winning line. Crossing the line three lengths clear in a rapid 29.65, it was another impressive display from the Holland-trained star, with the fast-finishing Grangeview Rocko claiming second ahead of Hackney Plan in third.

MAGIC BACK TO WINNING WAYS

Singalong Magic was a 5/2 chance in heat four of the night and the Gilbert Anderson-owned tracker, trained by Pat Buckley, produced a powerful display to reel in kennel companion Ballyea Warrior.

A level break saw a tightly knit pack race into the opening bend, however, the inside line proved decisive as Ballyea Warrior swept up the rails to establish a one and a half length advantage into the back straight. At this point, the 8/11 favourite looked a safe bet to go one better than his runner-up finish seven days earlier, but Singalong Magic was beginning to emerge as a major threat. Having shrugged off the challenge of Ballyhooly Bruno at the halfway mark, the son of Shima Shine – Newinn Liz quickly began to eat into the deficit approaching the bottom two bends. With Ballyea Warrior swinging wide off the final turn, Singalong Magic needed no second invitation to seize the initiative, storming up the home straight to draw clear of his kennel companion and seal a length-and-a-half victory in 29.89. Ballyhooly Bruno secured the remaining qualifying position in third.

KNOCK-OUT BLOW FROM BRUNO

Getup The Boy was expected to take plenty of beating in heat five, however, Skywalker Bruno produced a powerful late surge to snatch victory for Raymond Patterson and Michael O’Donovan.

Installed as the 5/6 favourite, Getup The Boy failed to break fluently from trap five, however, he showed stunning early pace to quickly sweep around both Ballygur Vernon and Skywalker Bruno. Narrowly avoiding traffic, there was slight contact between Getup The Boy and Skywalker Bruno before the Mark Robinson-trained favourite gathered momentum to establish a three-length advantage into the back straight. However, Skywalker Bruno wasn't to be deterred and he began to make serious inroads around the bottom two bends, setting up a thrilling finish. With Getup The Boy beginning to falter, O'Donovan's powerful son of Dromana Bucko – Ballyverry Sarah was only getting stronger and he finished with a flourish to get the nod by a neck in 29.74. Getup The Boy had to settle for second, while Lennies Eddie was a major eye-catcher in third, recovering from last place to finish strongly and secure the remaining qualifying position for Paul Hennessy and Lee Craze.