DWELL MOCK SETS THE STANDARD IN PURCELL MEMORIAL AT CLONMEL

    DWELL MOCK SETS THE STANDARD IN PURCELL MEMORIAL AT CLONMEL

    Peter Farrell

    The opening round heats of the Kieran Snr & Hanna Purcell Memorial featured on Friday night’s card at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium and of the four heats on offer, it was Dwell Mock that set the standard with a terrific performance in heat three. 

    This stake always proves top quality and each of the four heats didn’t disappoint. Of the heat winners, Dwell Mock went quickest as the 2/1 favourite, owned by the Scrapings-Of-The-Pot-Syndicate, made it back-to-back wins having scored at Kilkenny last time out. Running from one, the son of King Sheeran and Swift Zap was on the ball from the outset as he broke smartly from his inside berth to comfortably lead on the rail. In doing so, the July pup opened a three length advantage passing the sprint boxes and he extended his lead as he stopped the sectional clock in a rapid 16.07. Now in full throttle, ‘Mock’ upped the ante on the run for home as he crossed the line six lengths clear of Emers Lola in second. The time was a nippy 28.66.

    COCO NEXT BEST

    In heat two, Black Coco justified her 4/5 price tag as she built on some useful Enniscorthy form for owner Peter Nolan. 

    Trained by Cora Doyle, Black Coco may have been searching for a first career win, however, she displayed enough in Co. Wexford to suggest that victory wasn’t too far away. Drawn in trap four, the daughter of Born Warrior and Dolls Flash sat in midfield early on as both Hollyhill Keano and An Gaoithe Rua disputed for the lead. As the former took charge, Black Coco improved into second and she began to turn the screw rounding the bottom two bends. Thereafter, Black Coco proved much too strong as she notched it up a gear before staying on stoutly to win by a half-length from Hollyhill Keano in second. The time was 28.89. 

    FIONN FLIES EARLY

    Another tracker to dip under the 29-second barrier was Bogger Fionn in the final heat of the night as he showed blistering early speed to put his rivals to bed early. 

    Owned by Liam Peacock, Bogger Fionn had been in the wars on his last start at Thurles, however, he got back to winning ways in solid fashion to make it three wins from just four career starts. Housed in trap two, the even money favourite set his stall out early doors with a slick exit to lead his rivals into the opening bend. Posting a rapid 2.80 sectional, the son of Glengar Bale and Bogger Ophelia opened a lead of six lengths down the back as he stopped the third-bend sectional clock in a fastest of the stake, 16.00. Although ‘Fionn’ came back to the field thereafter, the damage was done early for Peacock’s charge as he comfortably crossed the line two and a half lengths clear of Ballinalick Bono in second. The time was 28.98. 

    SPECK BOUNCES BACK

    The remaining heat was landed by another favourite in the shape of Speck. 

    Installed at odds of 2/1, Speck was another that didn’t endure the cleanest of races last time out, however, the Kevin McLean-trained brindle was impressive in coming from off-the-pace to score. Owned by the Only-In-It-For-The-Craic-Syndicate, the son of Dromana Bucko and Shinnagh Time settled for second early on as Chaotic Alydar made the most of his rails berth to lead. However, the writing was on the wall passing the sprint boxes as Speck loomed large on his rival and he duly took control at the midway point of the race. In doing so, he quickly raced clear before crossing the line two and a half lengths better off than Chamberlain Star in second. The time was 29.00.

    IMPRESSIVE DEBUT FROM KEPLAR

    Elsewhere on the card, it would be remiss to mention a brilliant debut performance from Keplar Chopin.

    Running in what looked a very hot novice contest, Keplar Chopin, trained by Graham Holland for the Hally-Harty-Syndicate, turned it into a procession as he won by a country mile from trap three. Installed as the 4/5 favourite, ‘Chopin’ was headed early on by Glenbervie Wolf in six, however, this was short-lived as Holland’s charge quickly took control. Holding a healthy advantage down the back, the gap only increased as the September fawn crossed the line over twelve lengths clear of Swift Hayley in second. The time was a scorching 28.47.