Lad back in punters’ good books

CALLUMS LAD, who has cost punters a fair few euros over the past couple of weeks, got back into bettors’ good books when taking heat 3 in the opening round of the Tinys Bud Open 550 at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

The beaten jolly in the Getting Out Stakes for the previous two weeks, Callums Lad was again entrusted with favouritism on Saturday (6/4) and made the bend in front.

Queens Rock was his only serious rival down the back straight and, although he stuck well to his task, he never looked like reeling in the John Kiely trained winner who had two lengths to spare at the line in a useful 29.76.

Next best on the clock in the Tinys Bud was Palmetto Dunes in heat 8. The Denis Fitzgerald trained dog was always in control as he eased to a length and a half all the way win over Decent Prospect in 29.84.

Everybodysaidso completed a double for trainer John A Linehan in heat 1. The winner had the best of the break and made all to see off Broadacres Kenny by three parts of a length in 29.99. The winner had been three lengths ahead of the runner-up in the back straight.

The final heat fell to the John O'Flynn Jr trained Saint Like (ending a losing run of six races), who also made all the running to register a length success over Jeffys Crystal in 29.83.