PETES NOAH SETS THE STANDARD IN SEAN SCULLY OPENER
Peter Farrell
Friday night saw the opening round heats of the Sean Scully Memorial take place at Galway Greyhound Stadium and it was Petes Noah that set the standard in heat one for Donal Duggan and Peter Russell.
Well-supported on his last start at Galway, the punters kept faith with Petes Noah in heat one and he went to traps as the 4/7 favourite to get back to winning ways. Drawn in six, the son of Burgess Bucks - Notimetotalk was much quicker into stride on this occasion as he opened disputed for the early supremacy with kennel companion, French Fearless. A bump at the opener from Flyers Minnie saw ‘Petes’ shuffled into second place as French Fearless opened a lead of one and a half lengths passing the sprint boxes. However, not to be deterred, Petes Noah ran a beautiful third bend to shoot into the lead and saw off the advancing Flyers Minnie to cross the line one length better off. The time was a smart 29.34 .10s.
HEAT WATCH
In heat two, Cavan Man Gar (Ballymac Best - Port West Salmon) scored for the third career time for the Last-Pint-Syndicate. Occupying the striped jacket, ‘Cavan’ broke well out wide but was forced to settle for third rounding the opener as Cloonturk Honey held a clear lead entering the back straight. Some three lengths adrift at this point, Cavan Man Gar upped the ante rounding the bottom two bends, before chinning Cloonturk Honey on the line. The 4/1 chance emerging a half-length winner, the time was 29.53 .10s.
Kilwest Beauty was expected to take all the beating in heat three and the Gerry Holian-trained bitch duly obliged at odds of 1/2. Owned by The-Keating-Syndicate, this lady was purchased at the recent Kilkenny sales and has taken to Galway like a duck to water in recent weeks. Running from trap six, the daughter of Ballymac Anton - Burgess Millie was only moderately into stride, however, showed fizzing early dash to sweep around runners and take command entering the back straight. Holding a three length lead thereafter, Kilwest Beauty was very impressive in crossing the line three and a half clear of Paradise Liberty in second. The time was 29.46 .10s.
Hanover Luna was installed as the 6/4 favourite in heat four and Leeanne Fleming’s bitch brought up her half-dozen in good style in heat four. Running from five, ‘Luna’ was headed early on by Burnpark Shadow and the two had a ding-dong battle for the majority of the contest. However, showing the superior stamina was Hanover Luna as she shot to the front around the bottom two bends to go clear. In doing so, the daughter of Slippery Robert and Ballyhale Chloe emerged as a three winner over Ballygibbon Lass in second. The time was 29.42 .10s.
The concluding heat saw Scattery Beauty (Ballymac Cashout - Work Your Head) secure a maiden victory for the Scattery-Syndicate. Just an October puppy, the 5/2 chance was slowly into stride, however, enjoyed a brilliant run around the opener to nestle into second. At this point, Killanin Bono had built up ahead of steam at the head of proceedings and looked certain to prevail as a result. However, ‘Beauty’ shifted through the gears in excellent fashion late on to power alongside the longtime leader, before just getting the nod passing the winning line. A neck between the pair, the time was 29.72 .10s.