Farloe blitzes rivals again with another wide-margin success in Supersprint heat

Farloe Blitz continued his serene progress through the Greyhound & Pet World and Odds On Dog Food Supersprint with a wide-margin victory in the first semi-final on Saturday night at Curraheen Park.

Most impressive in the second round, the ante-post favourite had a potentially tricky draw next to the rails this time but made light of it. Gurtnacrehy Miky was first to show but, as he had done a week earlier, Farloe Blitz showed a super change of pace to lead clear into the first turn.

The 4-7 chance, trained by Owen McKenna for Paul Ellis, was in total control when his nearest pursuers tangled before the turn for home, and the favourite stretched away to win by ten and a half lengths, from reserve Burnt Le Bec, in 17.43, with Gurtnacrehy Miky in third.

David Fleming, Gneeveguilla, has Tubs Astral in the form of his life, and the son of former Laurels runner-up Tubbertelly Dubh followed up last week’s success with a clear-cut victory in the second semi-final.

A close third in the early stages, he quickened nicely to lead at the first bend, and then pulled away in good style to beat Boozed Tony by four and a half lengths, in 17.76, with Crown Champ a length further back.

There were three heats of the Vitz Irl Ltd. A3 525 down for decision and Blakefield Hero took the first of them for Barry and Erica Daly, Donoughmore. The returning Mums Misty led for much of the trip but the always prominent Blakefield Hero raced past in the straight to record a length-and-a-half victory in 29.17.

The Paul Kiely-trained Princey Beag ran out an impressive winner of the second heat. The half-sister to Vanrooney showed a fine turn of pace to lead into the bend, with Charlesfield Tom in chase. Staying on nicely from the front, she beat that rival by two and a half lengths, in 29.14. Butterbridge Pip overcame trouble to take the third heat for Diarmuid and Kieran Lynch, Belgooly. The bitch led until finding some trouble at the first bend, where Our Freddie slipped through to take over.

The early leader was short of room when remounting a challenge around the final bends, but produced a telling effort to get up late for a length victory over the running-on Laravoulta Libby, in 29.56.

Trap draw for Supersprint final: 1. Burnt Le Bec, 2. Crown Champ, 3. Boozed Tony, 4. Gurtnacrehy Miky, 5. Farloe Blitz, 6. Tubs Astral (w).

Vitz Irl. A3. Stake

First Semi-Final: 1 Galley Flyer, 2 Laravoulta Libby, 3 Charlesfield Tom, 4 Joyous, 5 Butterbridge, 6Tip, Memories Rise (w).

Second Semi-Final: 1 Our Freddie, 2 Mums Misty, 3 High Hill Bud, 4 Droopys Strand, 5 Blakefield Hero, 6 Princey Beag.