Nidge is forced to pull out all the stops to justify odds of 1-5

There were very few upsets in Saturday’s second round of the Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger at Limerick but Droopy Nidge, a runaway winner in a record time in the opening round, had a very different experience in trying to justify odds of 1-5 in heat five as he was forced to pull out all the stops to see off the determined Burgess Oscar.

The latter was first to show but held just a narrow advantage over the favourite as they raced around the opening bends and into the backstraight. There was still little to separate them as they raced the final bends and turned to face the judge.

Despite swinging wide off the last bend, the Robert Gleeson-trained Droopys Nidge had plenty of momentum and he forged ahead in the dying strides to see off the challenge of Burgess Oscar by half a length, in 29.62.

Dromore Premier took the opening heat with a gutsy display. The lead changed a number of times in this race but the winner was thereabouts from the outset, and found a little extra to deny the run of Borna Central by a head, in 29.97.

Lemon Pumba took the second heat for Adrian McPherson. He had to be brave to get around the first bend in front as the challenging Burgess Four was badly hampered. Once in front, the 2-1 chance moved a couple clear but was all out to deny the challenge of De Real Mccoy by a head, in 30.16.

Heat three was a real thriller, with the Liam Dowling-trained Vulturi getting back to winning ways with a hard-fought victory. Dundalk International winner Metro Jack led up and, after giving the eventual winner a lovely tow around the opening bends, he moved some four or five clear down the back. He still looked in control turning for home, but Derby finalist Vulturi produced a brilliant surge to get up on the line for a short-head victory, in 29.84.

Ballyana Foxtrot took heat four in good style for James Roche. He quickened to lead up and moved clear down the back. Big Bang stayed on gamely, but the leader was a length and a half too good, in 29.75.

Derby finalist Emers Superstar made light of his task in heat six. The Ger Holian-trained runner was clear into the first turn, and never in any danger as he strolled home seven clear of the promising Castleivy Crash, in 29.58.

General Wolf posted the biggest winning margin of the night when taking heat seven by 12 lengths, for Graham Holland. The experienced campaigner took over from Macho El at halfway and then powered clear for a facile success, from running-on kennel companion Elevenerife, in 29.74.

Paradise Silva, trained by Pat Buckley, also came home in splendid isolation, when posting the fastest time of the round in the last heat. He led along the inside at the first turn, and left his tangling rivals 10 lengths and more behind as he recorded victory in 29.52.

The winning trainer was also on the mark in the opening round of the Gain Select Stakes at Waterford on Saturday night with English Derby finalist Mind The Net.

Laurels semi-finalist Lemon Miley was first to show, and he stole some three lengths around the first couple of bends. The winner impressed as he moved to challenge between the final turns, and then ran on strongly to open a three-length winning margin in 28.37.

Southest Suzie, third behind Leamaneigh Mags in the final of the Newbridge Oaks on her previous start, took the second heat for Daniel Frayne. Puppy Derby runner-up Newlawn Impact set a strong tempo from his pitch along the rails, but the winner tracked him down the back, challenged around the last two bends, and asserted on the run-in to score by two and a half lengths, in 28.59.

Tynwald Bish impressed in taking the third heat for trainer Peter Cronin. Laurels finalist Farloe Calvin broke well from trap five but met resistance on his way across to the rails on the run-up. By the time he got to his desired position, Tynwald Bish had stolen a length lead, and then extended his advantage racing down the back. Tracking well, Terry Corden’s dog pulled four lengths clear in 28.49.

Trap draw for Leger quarter-finals:

Heat One: 1. Vulturi, 2. Burgess Oscar, 3. Hannibal Rising, 4. Cloon Glory, 5. Elevenerife (m), 6. Droopys Nidge (w).

Heat Two: 1. Castleivy Crash, 2. Stone Boy King, 3. Paradise Silva, 4. Barefoot Scholar, 5. Glideaway Con (m), 6. Jackal Frampton (w).

Heat Three: 1. Big Bang, 2. Lemon Pumba, 3. De Real Mccoy, 4. General Wolf, 5. Emers Superstar, 6. Borna Helena.

Heat Four: 1. Metro Jack, 2. Macho El, 3. Borna Central, 4. Dromore Premier, 5. Hawaii Kinsale, 6. Ballyana Foxtrot (m).