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You are > Home > Rotunda triumphs as hospital benefit night nears
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Thursday, July 01, 2010
Rotunda triumphs as hospital benefit night nears
By Murt Murphy
PREPARATIONS continued at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium, Tralee, over the weekend for the big Kerry General Hospital Benefit Night that should see another massive crowd show up on this Friday night.
The semi-finals of the Patsy Byrne Hospital Sweepstake (A1) over 550 yards threw up a couple of very eye-catching runs with Ardrahan Rotunda, taking the first semi in impressive fashion.
Ardrahan Rotunda was not ideally drawn in trap five but was quickly away. And with a few of his rivals slowly away inside him, he was able to get to the rails by the opening bend and that was that.
Aer Bus looked a big danger as they rounded the second bend but then, unfortunately, she pulled up lame at the top of the back straight and his race was over.
Meanwhile, Ardrahan Rotunda was three or four lengths clear and despite a good effort by the running on Hidden Flight, the leader was never going to be caught as he came home three lengths clear, in a quick 30.40.
Ardrahan Rotunda is owned and trained by Daniel Nolan from Ardfert. If he is drawn nearer the rails for Friday night, he will be fancied to follow up.
Mileheight Crash was fancied to run a big race from trap one in the second semifinal but he missed his break completely and did well to come from last into third.
However, it was 3/1 shot Riverfield Dave who blazed a trail from trap two and was never headed as he led all the way around four bends to beat the luckless Boher Maeve by a length and half in 30.61.
The winner is owned by Dave Costello from Ballybunnion. The runner-up Boher Maeve did not enjoy a clear run, and she could well reverse the placings on Friday night.
In the Costello Construction Hospital A2 Sweep over 570 yards, Anotherfinemess was not fooling around as he broke smartly from trap one. Once he got past Tyson, he was always in control as he galloped clear down the back.
There was a lot of crowding in behind with Christy’s Bell being done no favours and neither was Headley’s Ruso as Anotherfinemess stayed on strongly to win by a half length from the running on Blue Social in 31.67.
The winner is owned and trained by Patrick Flaherty from Lixnaw.
Early pace proved decisive in the third semi-final with Ballyfidora One taking the lead soon after the start.
Despite drifting wide in the run-up, he was always in control, as there was lots of trouble in behind and the leader cruised to a six and half length win from the running on Kielduff Merc, clocking 31.15 for Joseph and Noel O’Sullivan from Tralee.
Meanwhile, Headley’s Jake caused an upset in the second semi-final of the Kerry Group Hospital Sweepstake (A2) when he turned over the 5/4 favourite Longmeadow Dude after displaying early pace.
He took it over at the first bend and raced clear down the back.
Pennylane Ranger was always in second place without ever looking like he was going to close the gap and Headley’s Jake had three lengths to spare in a lightening quick 28.51 for Nicky Cotter form Headley’s Bridge.
Elsewhere, Ballymac Bull is breaking as explosively as ever but maybe he is not running the second half of his races as quickly.
However, he was quickly away in the opening semifinal and the 4/5 favourite was three or four lengths clear by half way.
Gortkelly Sky ran on from the second last and was closing all the way down the finishing straight but Ballymac Bull was not for catching as he had a length to spare in 28.94. The winner is owned by Shane Dowling from Ballymacelligott and is still a leading player.
Last year’s winner Clohur Blue is not about to give up his title without a fight.
Showing improved form, he was quickly away from trap six and beat his rivals to the opening bend, with Dinard Bomber being baulked at the opening bend, and Holy Wood also being checked.
Clohur Blue was still in front down the back with Farran Bomber running a decent race in second place for Jeremiah Hanafin and Jonathon Best.
However, Clohur Blue was never going to surrender his lead, and had a length and half to spare on the line, winning in 28.87 for Paddy Scanlon from Ballymac.
Don’t forget the Kerry General Hospital Benefit Night this Friday night with an 11 top races and lots of sideshows for all the family – tickets can be purchased on the night so a big crowd is expected.
The sale of Kingdom Greyhound Stadium Supporters Club annual membership tickets have been really going well but there are still some owners and trainers who have not bought into to the new venture.
The Rose of Tralee Sweep will be the first sweep that the supporters club will sponsor. One of the conditions of the sweep will be that preference will be given to paid-up members when filling the stake.
It does not mean that anyone is being excluded, just that those who paid the €100 that has helped enable the Rose of Tralee to be run, rightly should be able to have a runner, if qualified.
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