Broadstrand Lad sews it up early

BROADSTRAND Lad earned some deserved silverware when landing the odds in the final of the Tyrur Kennels Open 575 at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

The Johnny Linehan-trained odds-on favourite put a seal on this victory early, when his opening surge carried him to the front and he quickly opened up a sizeable advantage over his rivals.Laurels Consolation winner Knockane Rebel turned in second place but he faced a real uphill task as he raced into the backstraight with some five lengths to make up. The strong staying tracker made significant inroads around the third and fourth turns but Broadstrand Lad, owned by Billy Drake and Vincent O'Donovan, is a powerful sort and he readily repelled the challenge of that rival by three and a half lengths in 31.23.

The victory completed a double for trainer Johnny Linehan, whose Aghaburren River ran out a doughty winner of the previous race. Enjoying a better draw than when beaten here on his previous start, he claimed an early advantage and battled bravely to deny the challenge of Crucible Rocket by a length and a half in 32.05.