Bargain gets off the mark in style

BEST Bargain got off the mark at an appropriate moment when leading home a one/two for trainer Niall Dunne and owner Pat Dalton in the final of the Willie Cummins Unraced Stake at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

The winner had been in the wars in both previous round of the stake, but with a trouble free run this time he made no mistake.

Kennelmate Wise Cruiser led down the back straight and held a sizeable four length advantage at the third bend. But Best Bargain was only getting going at this point and he came with a sweeping run to win going away by a length and a half in 28.70.

The Cummins Sports 575 Stakes final was a much closer affair with the Ger Morgan trained Vintage Scholes holding on by a neck from dead-heaters Chies Neddler (unlucky in running) and Talk Blue in 31.82.

Fastest in the opening round of the Rochestown Park Hotel Stakes was Bookies Bandit in heat 3. Owned and trained by John Healy of Carraignavar, the winner made all for a three and a half length success over Time Our Enemy in 30.00.

Fastest standard distance time of the night came in the opener when the Graham Holland trained Riverside Kid stopped the clock in 28.47. Very fast away, he was all of six length clear at one stage but needed all of it as in the end he only had a length to spare over the strong finishing Boherash Solas.