NOTORIOUS MAKES HIS MARK IN O’CONNOR JULIAN VETS CASHEL TRI-DISTANCE

Peter Farrell

After a brilliant display in the opening round of the O’Connor Julian Vets Cashel Tri-Distance at Limerick last weekend, Monbeg Notorious stepped up to the 575-yard trip emphatically on Saturday night, producing an exemplary display to head into the decider as a leading player.

Owned by Cormac Doyle, Monbeg Notorious clocked an impressive 30.06 last weekend, bettered only by Boardofpeace and litter brother Monbeg Hero. However, it was ‘Notorious’ who was to up his game over the 575-yard leg on Saturday night, dispatching his rivals to post the quickest time since the record-breaking runs of Thats It Jack back in 2024.

Running in the second of the two semi-finals, the son of King Sheeran - Roanna Sky was installed as the 5/4 favourite and he broke well from trap four, matched only by Velvet Lagatha in trap one. Doyle’s charge had too much for his rival on the run-up, however, outpacing her into the turn to take a two-and-a-half-length advantage into the back. Further adrift, Ballyelan Brandy sat in third as the trio quickly pulled clear of the remainder of the field. Although Monbeg Notorious was kept honest throughout by Velvet Lagatha, who ran a huge race in second, Doyle’s runner was never under serious pressure. Maintaining a powerful gallop all the way to the winning line, he crossed with two and a half lengths to spare over Deyse Buckley’s lady in second. Ballyelan Brandy was another eye-catcher in third as the clock returned a fantastic 31.03.

PEACE GOES BACK-TO-BACK

In the opening semi-final, Monbeg Hero was installed as the red-hot 4/6 favourite after posting 29.70 in round one. However, he came unstuck at the expense of Boardofpeace.

Boardofpeace also dipped under 30 seconds in round one for Michael Keating and the 3/1 chance broke well from trap three, bettered only by Drill Baby Drill in trap one. However, the Keating runner quickly asserted on the run-up and rounded in charge, followed by Leamaneigh Godes in second. Further back, Monbeg Hero was beginning to get to work in third, improving all the while and looking certain to seal qualification. Up front, however, there was no stopping Boardofpeace. The son of Dromana Bucko - Clounamon Cheeko maintained a strong gallop up the Limerick hill to cross the line two lengths clear of Monbeg Hero, who was finishing like a train in second. The remaining qualifying position went the way of Snuggie Tasha, with the clock stopping at 31.22.

Ahead of the final, it really is a stacked field and the ‘Monbeg’ runners will no doubt play a big part in proceedings. Despite suffering defeat on Saturday night, Monbeg Hero remains the one to beat in my eyes. However, keep an eye on Velvet Lagatha, who ran a superb race in defeat and will relish the extra yardage next weekend.

The trap draw for the final was made shortly after and is as follows :

T1 - BOARDOFPEACE

T2 - VELVET LAGATHA

T3 - MONBEG HERO

T4 - MONBEG NOTORIOUS

T5 - SNUGGIE TASHA

T6 - BALLYELAN BRANDY

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SOLO SETS FLOWTECH STANDARD

The opening round heats of the Flowtech Ireland A4/A5 525 featured on the undercard and Hail Mary (Dorotas Wildcat - Airfield Biddy) set the standard for Fionnuala, Aoife and Michael O’Meara.

Having just her fourth career start, the January 25’ pup was bidding for a first career victory and she broke well from five to follow Boozed Foxy around the opening bend. Despite sitting some two and a half lengths adrift for the majority of the contest, the 5/4 favourite upped the ante off the final bend and finished strongly to collar Boozed Foxy by a short-head on the line. The time was a good 28.77.

Next best on the clock was Rallying Solo (7/2) for Dan Flynn and Christopher Delaney. Running in heat one, Rallying Solo was also chasing a maiden victory, but the January 25’ pup set his stall out early with an electric start from trap four to lead. In doing so, the son of Dorotas Wildcat - Airfield Biddy, a brother of Hail Mary, took a two-length advantage into the back, one he doubled by the halfway mark. Despite coming under pressure from both Taylormade Deone and Keelins Peppa late on, ‘Solo’ held firm to cross the line with one length to spare in 28.96.

In the other heats, Settle Suzi took charge late on for John Slattery, the daughter of Ballymac Bolger - Velvet Spring recording a second career victory as she saw off Bosra Bono by one and a half lengths in 29.23. The remaining heat saw Ballygibbon Lass (Ballymac Cashout - Aayamza Royale) also finish with a flourish for John O’Meara. The 5/2 chance powered past Magicman in the closing stages to win by three and a half lengths in 29.01.

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MATILDA BACK TO HER BEST

Elsewhere on the card, there was a brilliant performance from Deerjet Matilda in the concluding race.

The Corona Ryan-trained runner is top-class on her day and her starting price of 3/1 looked huge given the calibre of opposition she is accustomed to competing against. Drawn in two, the daughter of Deerjet Sydney - Nice Mystery, owned by Nicholas De La Roche, took charge early and, given her strong-running style, the writing was already on the wall for her rivals. Drawing clear down the back, this quickly developed into a procession for ‘Matilda’ as she powered home to cross the line seven lengths clear of Sparta Calli in second. The time was a rapid 28.27. Incidentally, the result sealed a double for the Corona Ryan kennel after she also landed the curtain-raiser courtesy of Beaming Olivia, who arrived late to snatch a short-head victory in 28.93.

SONY SEALS NOVICE STAKE

The final of the Book A Fundraiser ON2/ON3 525 also went down for decision in race three and Denis Carroll’s Sony Cracker (McInerney - Tally Ho Vicky) maintained his 100% record to date.

Drawn in two, Sony Cracker had made all in 29.16 on debut and he sharpened up brilliantly at boxes this time around, breaking well to post a 1.29 sectional and lead. From there, the 2/1 chance was never headed as he saw off Here We Are by one length in an improved 28.89, taking home the €700 first prize.