Fox has rivals on the run from her inside draw

The burgeoning career of the impressive Ryecourt Fox took another step in the right direction when Peg Shanahan’s youngster produced a terrific performance in Saturday night’s quarter-finals of the Guinness Trophy.

The daughter of Colorful Champ and Jamaican Star loves the inside draw and she maintained her unbeaten record from trap one (four from four) by blasting clear from the early stages. Estebanfan gave chase throughout but Ryecourt Fox, who is a few weeks short of her second birthday, maintained a relentless gallop to score comfortably in 28.65.

Alan Troy’s Hotash Felt could yet have a real say in the destination of the trophy. On only her second run since September and also her second at Curraheen Park, she produced a faultless display from the wide outside to take the second heat. The bitch had the pace to lead some useful early pacers to the turn and, once in front, dictated matters to record a comfortable 29.03 victory.

Kranky Ma is more familiar to Curraheen patrons and she bounced back from her first-round defeat to take the third quarter-final in great style. John Kiely’s experienced campaigner set up her winning run with a smart break from the inside. The prolific Paid Paddy threw down an early challenge but the leader was not for catching and she raced away to a smart three-length victory over Move Over Bono 28.92.

Although bitches dominated the quarter-finals, the fastest time of the round, and the competition to date, is in the paws of Glenanore, which took the opening heat in 28.60. Tom O’Neill’s dog is an imposing tracker but he showed an impressive turn of foot to wrest the lead form Black Maestro racing to the third turn. A strong stayer at this trip, he pulled clear to score by two and a half lengths.

There were two semi-finals of the Hut Bar A2 575 down for decision and the hugely talented Killians Express made a mockery of proceedings with a devastating display in the first. Dermot Bracken’s dog really appreciated the drop in grade as he totally outclassed his rivals with a 16-length victory in 31.43.

Ballyhooly Queen showed her appreciation for the step up in trip when taking the second semi-final. Winner of the Derby Trial Stake at Youghal back in July, she made every yard of the running to race home clear in 31.56.