SWIFT PERFORMANCE FROM FLYERS IN PADDY O’GORMAN FINAL

Peter Farrell

Friday night served up a stacked card at Galway Greyhound Stadium, with the feature being the final of the €2,000-to-the-winner Paddy O’Gorman A3/A4 525.

As outlined in the preview, this was a wide-open affair and that assessment was reflected in the betting, with On The Latt installed as the 5/2 favourite. Flyers Swiftly and Heathlawn Ruby were next best at 3/1, while Rinnwood Leo and Crafty Elegatto were quoted at 4/1. Lilys Beauty completed the line-up as the 5/1 outsider.

Despite failing to land her semi-final assignment, Flyers Swiftly caught the eye in defeat when finishing a strong second and, given her youth, she appeared the most likely to find the time required to land the spoils. Colm Fitzgerald’s charge picked the perfect night to produce a career-best effort, wearing down her rivals late on to land this valuable prize in thoroughly deserved fashion. At traprise, Rinnwood Leo and On The Latt broke best, with Des Flaherty’s experienced campaigner setting the early pace and opening a one-length advantage over On The Latt heading into the opening bend. Crafty Elegatto was close enough out wide, while Flyers Swiftly showed excellent track craft to nip up the inside and slot into a close third. Racing down the back straight, ‘Leo’ continued to assert and looked the likely winner at that stage, while a separate battle unfolded in behind as On The Latt, Flyers Swiftly and Crafty Elegatto went stride for stride. However, approaching the final two bends, an area that has proven problematic for Rinnwood Leo in recent outings, the momentum began to shift. As the petrol gauge flickered on Flaherty’s charge, the youthful Flyers Swiftly, owned by Michael and Liam Fitzgerald, upped the ante along the rails. In full throttle late on, the daughter of Ballyhimikin Jet – Millridge Dolly proved a class apart in the closing stages, powering clear to score by one and a half lengths. Crafty Elegatto finished strongly to grab second, with Heathlawn Ruby running a fine race to claim third. The winning time was a smart 28.91.

BALLYEA WARRIOR MAINTAINS UNBEATEN CAREER START

The support act on the card was the final of the Christmas Party Nights ON2/3 350, where Ballyea Warrior maintained his unbeaten record with another polished display.

Trained by Declan McDonagh for Noel Gavin, Ballyea Warrior had shown blistering early speed in his previous two outings but demonstrated a different dimension in the final, coming from off the pace to make it three wins from as many starts. Sent off the 5/4 favourite, the son of Ballymac Kingdom – Wolfofallstreets wasn’t as fluent into stride on this occasion and it was Flyers Penny who led the field around the opening bend. Ballyea Warrior, however, was improving steadily in behind and powered up the Galway hill to reel in his rival, drawing clear late on to score by one and a half lengths, with Drombeg King filling the runner-up spot. The winning time was 19.50 and she looks a very useful type for the McDonagh kennel going forward.

NOELLES SETS ‘TIME’ STANDARD

The semi-finals of the TIME Club A5/A6 525 also featured on the card, with Noelle and Johnnie Divilly’s Noelles Santiago setting the benchmark ahead of next week’s decider.

A winner of his opening-round assignment in a solid 29.58, the June puppy showed marked improvement this time around to ensure he goes into the final as the one to beat. Drawn in trap three, the 4/6 favourite broke with intent but was unable to match the superior early pace of Glasheen Model from trap four. Turning in second, the son of Dromana Bucko – Noelles Camino quickly turned the tables, taking firm control entering the penultimate bend. From there, it was a case of how far as ‘Santiago’ powered up the home straight to score by an emphatic seven and a half lengths. The winning time was a swift 28.94, with Hollywell Gypsy and Poppys Oreo filling the remaining qualifying positions.

The opening semi-final set a high standard, but the second proved equally impressive as Drombeg Milo recorded a convincing success for Evan McAuliffe. Another sent off the strong 4/6 favourite, ‘Milo’ was bidding for back-to-back victories and wasted little time in showcasing his pace, breaking smartly from trap three to take early command. The son of Run Happy – Hazelfield Echo proved a class apart thereafter, drawing clear to score by five and a half lengths. The time was 29.08, with Rosshill Point taking second ahead of Burkos Breeze in third.

ELSEWHERE

Elsewhere on the card, the Young Handlers Finale A3 525 went the way of Portumna Syd, who made every post a winner for Mary Muldoon and John Sloyan, stopping the clock in a fast 29.14. Meanwhile, the three semi-finals of the Nancy Tynan Memorial were also decided, with Stonepark Sam posting the quickest of the trio when narrowly edging top honours in 30.78 for James Byrne and P.J. Tynan. The final of this event takes place next week and promises to be keenly contested, with less than a length and a half separating the three semi-final winners.