Dog Almighty shows nice blend of speed and stamina
But a lot of the gloss was taken from the race when the favourite, Jordan's Elect, was withdrawn from the race on Saturday morning having pulled up stiff in a gallop during the week. Connections weren't happy with him and thought it best not to risk him when he was only 80-90% right.
Dog Almighty popped out in front and by the second bend was comfortably in front of Property Rebel who in turn was nicely clear of the other three.
The order remained the same to the fifth bend and, just when it seemed that Dog Almighty was home and hosed, Miss Dynamite, who wasn't able to repeat her front running heroics of the previous week, got her second win and started to run on strongly.
At the same time Air Force Honcho was slipping into overdrive and came with a wet sail down the outside.
Both dogs ate into the pacemaker's lead in the finishing straight but Dog Almighty wasn't to be denied and held on well for a length success over Air Force Honcho with Miss Dynamite a neck back in third. The winning time was 41.66.
The Stephen Bourke trained winner, owned by the Kildare based Precious Diamond Syndicate, was gaining his second major success at the track having won the Bank Of Ireland Stake at the venue last autumn.
The Macroom Motors Stake kicked-off on the night and quickly developed into a Paul Hennessy benefit, with the Kilkenny handler taking four of the five heats.
Fat Budgie, who had lowered his personal best time in each of his last four runs culminating in equalling the national standard distance record with a 28.08 effort last time, duly landed odds of 1-3 in the second heat (in a race in three reserves ran) but anybody expecting him to break the record was disappointed.
He had shown a liking for the inside previously and he again cut in at the break from his trap five draw, perhaps being slightly lucky to avoid trouble.
He was led around the opening bend by the fast starting Captain Peacock but had joined issue by the second bend and quickly asserted early in the back straight.
He had gone three lengths clear by halfway and easily maintained that advantage for the second half of the race, eventually coming home three and a half lengths clear of Captain Peacock in 28.24.
Hennessy's Longvalley Homer meanwhile lowered his personal best by .10 when taking the opening heat in a fastest of the night 28.16.
The winner had been impressive when winning at the track ten days previously without clocking a particularly fast time.
It was a different story on Saturday however as Longvalley Homer made all, but this time the style of his win was matched by the clock which he stopped at 28.16 when beating kennelmte De Burglar by three and a half lengths.
It was Hennessy again in heat 3 when Barefoot Maestro made all for an easy success over Hares Mile in 28.24.
Farran Lady completed the Hennessy four-timer with a 28.50 effort in heat 5 and if it wasn't for Rambos Dream in heat four Hennessy would have taken all five heats as he provided the runner up here in Honchos Ransom. He was well beaten however by the Michael Quilter (Lixnaw) owned and trained Rambos Dream who quickened clear from halfway to come home five lengths clear of his rivals in 28.32.
The second round draw for the Macroom Motors and Cashmans betting is on page 25.
