Student passes testin style

OWEN MCKENNA, who kicked-off his annus mirabilis last year by taking the Guinness Trophy at Curraheen Park with Boherduff Light, has another major contender for this year's renewal in Student Pass who carded a fastest of the round 28.33 in heat 6 on Saturday night.

Winner of the Denis Browne Kingdom Derby at Tralee in December, Student Pass was fast away from his middle draw and, clear from the opening bend after trouble in behind, romped home a whopping 16 lengths ahead of the favourite Tyrur Daryl (in trouble a few times during the race).

Track record holder Fat Budgie turned in a moderate effort in heat 2. He was prominent early on alongside Jesceda Lad but Mountleader Gara, owned and trained by Donal O'Mahony in Millstreet, swept past the pair of them on the run to the bend. The winner was in control from before halfway and eased home three and a half lengths clear of Blonde Thunder in 28.53.

The 'Budgie's' handler, Paul Hennessy, rebounded quickly however when sending out Blonde Mac and the reserve, Goblet of Fire, to fill the first two places in heat 3. Goblet of Fire surged ahead going into the opening bend and had a three length advantage over his kennel-mate at halfway, the pair clear of the rest at that stage.

The issue looked to have been sealed when Blonde Mac checked between the last two bends when mounting a challenge. But Goblet of Fire tired in the closing stages allowing Blonde Mac to get up for a half length success in 28.81. The runner-up suffered a training setback at the beginning of the month and had only been back in full work for a few days prior to Saturday. He looks likely to come on a lot for the outing.

The Stephen Bourke trained Hi Tip led into the bend in the opening heat and was always comfortably holding Forge Flyer afterwards, eventually winning by a length and a half in 28.72.

Historic Moment took over from the pacemaking Rock Hill at the bend in heat 4 and came clear in the closing stages for an easy six length win for the track's leading trainer John Linehan.

The John Kiely trained Sleek Mountain finished with a flourish in heat 5 to beat Windgap Carlton by three quarters of a length in 28.91.

The trap draw for the second round of the Guinness Trophy is:

Heat one:1 Lios An Eolais, 2 Historic Moment, 3 Student Pass, 4 Sleek Mountain, 5 Hi Tip, 6 Mountleader Gara.

Heat two: 1 Goblet Of Fire, 2 Nikita Billie, 3 Fat Budgie, 4 Longvalley Homer, 5 Civil Rights, 6 Blonde Thunder.

Heat three: 1 Forge Flyer, 2 Blonde Mac, 3 Rock Hill, 4 Asian De Vieri 5 Sinabhfuilbertie (w), 6 Deejay Ninetysix (w).

Heat four: 1 Trumpers Jack, 2 Jeffs Pacific, 3 Hot Rocks, 4 Kims Prancer, 5 Tyrur Daryl, Mustang Okee (w).