Jo makes it six from seven in style
Mulcair Jo came out awkwardly in the opening semi-final but surged past Pork Pie and Tearaway Lady into the bend.
He went clear early in the back straight and it was a procession from halfway as the September '03 pup won his sixth race from seven starts and his last four in-a-row (never out of first two) by three and a half lengths from Tearaway Lady in 28.45.
Castlelyons Cech scrapped the paint off the rails at vital stages of the race to claim the second semi-final.
Slowly away and a few lengths adrift of the other five passing the winning line for the furst time, Castlelyons Cech went from last to third in a matter of strides between the first and second bends. He went second behind Knockna Kirka just after halfway and again railed brilliantly when surging to the head of affairs at the third bend.
Running on strongly afterwards he had two lengths to spare over Knockna Kirka at the line in 28.63.
Dairyland Tom meanwhile was always in the leading group in the third semi-final and took over from Tahina Prince at the third bend. Aarons Boy moved up to challenge between the last two bends but ran very wide off the last bend allowing Dairyland Tom to come home alone in 28.70
Rooney and Fornaught Honcho had a good tussle in the Cork GOBA Past Presidents final.
The pair dominated throughout with Fornaught Honcho gaining the upper hand in the back straight. But Rooney rallied and joined him at the third bend. Rooney then found that bit extra in the straight for a length win in 28.96.
The winner is locally trained by John Kiely for Dublin owners John Kenny and Don Kelleher.
The draw for the final of the AIB Bank Stakes next Saturday is: 1 Castlelyons Cech, 2 Knockna Kirka, 3 Dairyland Tom, 4 Mulcair Jo (w), 5 Aarons Boy (w), 6 Tearaway Lady (w).
