Young Legends shows her class with terrific display
The 2-1 favourite wasn’t ideally boxed on the wide outside, but, ultimately, her pace allowed her overcome it. Whatasetup was first to show but the favourite quickly engaged top gear, and swept around the outside to take command before straightening up for the backstretch. Running powerfully throughout, she pulled four lengths clear of the early leader, in a best-of-the-night 28.57.
Broadstrand Blue left behind his luckless semi-final run when taking the Bartlemy Road Ltd A3 Tri-Distance final for trainer Johnny Linehan and owners Billy Drake and Vincent O’Donovan. Odds-on favourite from a good-looking draw next to the fence, he broke well and had to use his position to forge ahead of fastest semi-final winner Ridgedale Hawk as they raced the opening bends. Lightly raced but clearly very classy, he appreciated the 575 yards trip as he forged clear late to beat his persistent challenger by two and a half lengths, in 31.63.
The first final on the card was the Curraheen Bookmakers Unraced Stake, and there was an upset as 4-1 chance Scarra Lad scored for Martin O’Reilly and owners Mark and David Linehan. The youngster, out of smart bitch Montana Swift, showed pace to take the lead from reserve Watch Out Lady at the first bend, and then moved a couple clear down the back. Semi-final winner Furry Glen, who found early trouble, finished with a real flourish, but the leader held on by a short head, in 29.68.
Progressive young bitch Boherash Katy also caused a 4-1 upset when taking the final of the Mick O’Keeffe A4 525 for Michael Hanrahan, Glanworth. Winner of her semi-final from a good-looking draw, she was asked a tougher question from trap three this time but came up with the right answer.
With an impressive show of early pace, she was able to lead around, with Adrigole Honey her nearest pursuer. Favourite Blackwater Spark soon took up the role of chaser but was unable to get to the leader, who stayed on to score by a length, in 29.09.
The last of the five finals was the John O’Brien (Belindas) A2 525 and Drive On Vick made all for an impressive victory. Owned and trained by Thomas O’Donovan, Farranree, the 9-4 second favourite was first to rise, and showed fine pace to go clear of Witches Sandy around the opening bends, while odds-on favourite Gwan Slab missed the kick and struggled to get involved. The leader strode out purposefully down the backstraight, and maintained her gallop to beat Witches Sandy by three lengths, in 28.74.
Montana Bliss, a litter sister to Unraced Stake winner Scarra Lad, made a winning debut in the opener. Barry O’Reilly’s bitch railed smartly to lead out of the second bend and ran on well to beat Spur Dasher by four lengths, in 29.73.
On Gas took the sprint for Paudie Sexton and the Lap It Up Syndicate. He railed well throughout and forged clear to win by a length-and-a-half, from Benteke, in 18.01.
The easiest winner of the night was Droopys Swan, in the 750. The bitch, trained by Johnny Linehan for Sean Dunphy, Portlaw, led between the opening bends and pulled clear with every stride thereafter, to score by more than 12 lengths, in 42.15.
Trainer Kieran Lynch took the fifth and sixth races with Looking Ominous and Butterbridge Pip. The former used his inside line perfectly to lead late for a length-and-a-half victory over long-time leader Glanmire Trooper, in 29.25.
In race six, Butterbridge Pip, last at the second turn, produced a terrific run to lead late for a length victory over Doolieve Ace, in 29.48.
Burgess Rumble justified favouritism in the eighth race. The 5-4 chance, owned by Sheila Spillane and JJ Fennelly, Killeagh, chased the pace set by Downdaniel Ali before pouncing late to snatch a length victory, in 28.66.
Rustys Heart became the last winner of the year at Curraheen when taking the finale for Ann O’Sullivan, Bantry. He had the pace to lead Laravoulta Libby into the bend, moved clear down the back, and stayed well to beat that rival by three lengths, in 29.18.
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