As tipped in The Clare Echo last week, Bling Bling Paul bounced back from defeat to win the Epic Hero Leger A4 525 Sweepstake Final at the Limerick Track on Saturday night last when wins were also recorded by former Clare hurler Sean Stack and current panellist Gary Cooney.
It was a deserved win for owner John Meehan of Newmarket-on-Fergus as this young Greyhound had shown plenty of class with two wins in earlier rounds of this Stake worth €2,000 to the winner.
Clare owners and trainers had a successful night with Donal Cooney registering a nice double with Full Flight and Runontheinside landing their respective contests. The fastest of the kennel companions was Runontheinside and he was flawless in running out a comprehensive winner. Owned by Darren and Ciaran Cooney, Runontheinside has some terrific runs on his card and he was quickest into stride wearing the black jacket to dictate the pace heading into the opening bend. From here, it was a formality for the son of Ballymac Vic – Glenlee as he raced to a two length win over Gunboat Showman in second. The time was a swift 28.88.
Prior to that, Full Flight landed the spoils to make it back to back wins. Owned this time by Clare hurler Gary Cooney, Full Flight was only moderately away from trap five but ran a lovely opening corner to take charge heading into the back straight. It was a closely run affair thereafter but Full Flight held firm despite the persistence of Clorane Cross to seal a half length victory at the line. The time was 29.04.
The fastest time over the standard on the night came in race eleven as Rallying Joy ran out a most impressive winner for trainer Sean Stack of Sixmilebridge, the former Clare centre-back. Owned by the Rallying-Racing syndicate, Rallying Joy was last seen in November of last year as she came from off the pace to seal a 28.99 victory. However, the talented brindle was paw perfect last night as she pinged the lids from trap one to dominate from the outset. Never under any threat throughout, she came home on her own, eight lengths clear, in a fast time of 28.69.
Two semi-finals of the Paul McKenna Memorial A5 575 yards stake formed part of Saturday’s card in Galway. In the first semi-final, all eyes were in the Mullins-Curtin Syndictate owned Kiss An Angel who duly delivered after a good tussle to the three quarter mark with eventual runner up Port West Salmon. On the long run towards the opening bend Port West Salmon, Kiss An Angel and Cloondarone Lady were clear of their rivals with Port West Salmon leading along the rails entering the back straight. As they approached the penultimate bend though Kiss An Angel began to turn the screw as she eased clear to defeat Port West Salmon and Aldworth Cherry by four and three quarter lengths and the same in 31.71.
The second semi-final followed a similar type path with Flyers Job and Rosshill Holly both showing pace on the long trek to the bend with Rosshil Holly just shading the issue on the rails at the opening bend. Racing down the back the pair were clear but the Colm Fitzgerald and Cathal Meaney of Kilrush owned Flyers Job took command leaving the back straight and the daughter of Secreto and Confey Eve eased away to defeat Creevy Fire by three and a half lengths with Dreenan Bobby in third place in 32.12.
Kiss An Angel will go to traps at short odds and should win this final on Saturday night next for the Mullins-Curtin Syndicate of Gort.
