Good weather mixed with good racing

GOOD WEATHER and good racing proved the order of the night on Thursday at Enniscorthy dog track.

That was in complete contrast to Monday night as, due to the poor weather, the racing had to be called off, with that card and the semi-finals of the April Stakes then featuring on Thursday night.

The four second round heats of the Red Mills Unraced Stake were of big interest, and things are hotting up nicely heading into this week’s semi-finals.

Local owner John Doyle enjoyed a good win in heat two with Kiltrea Dawn who ran a very mature race after being led up by trap one’s Kingsmill Cat.

She waited cleverly to challenge into the third bend but the door was shut up the inside, so she quickly stepped back outside Kingsmill to go to the front off the last bend. She went on to score well from the fast-finishing Brewnshill Shep.

Another Kiltrea runner, Shay, completed a nice double for John when he scored snugly in race eight in a fast 29.08 -30 slow.

Heat one saw Hello Pierre score a convincing win when leading and holding the challenge of Cactus Coney who ran a very good race from the tricky trap six box.

Four lengths separated them on the line in a good time of 29.20 -30 slow.

The winner is owned by Susan Hennessy and she also enjoyed a good double when her Blitzem Bill did just that in the first semi of the April Stakes.

Flying out of trap four, although Philitiger chased him hard all the way, there was no catching Blitzem in a fast 28.90 -30 slow.

Heat three saw the complete outsider, Sarahs Super Ted, come through well at the third bend to stride on strongly and beat some more fancied opponents in a time of 29.56 -30 slow.

Heat four saw the probable favourite for outright honours on display, Ninga Nagato, and he put in a very professional performance when striding out well, getting a lovely run through at the first bend to lead down the back.

He won easily in the end, with reserve Black Yogi running a blinder in second. The time was 29.15 -30 slow.

The semi-finals of the Red Mills Unraced are wide open. As the trap draw has worked out, it makes for a fascinating night’s racing next Thursday.

The ninth race, the other semi-final of the April Stakes, saw hot favourite Ketch Up Bella go out. As feared, trap six was not to her liking and Last Minute Lady from trap one showed great determination as she tracked trap five’s Rocket Turbo down the back.

She made her challenge up the inside at the third bend and, after a great battle all the way to the line with Rocket, she got the verdict in a good 29.11 -30 slow.

This week’s final will be interesting as the draw again has thrown up an open-looking contest.

And with some very good back-up races, Thursday night’s card will be the biggest of the year so far.

The Red Mills 2019 Easter Unraced Stake semi-final one: trap one, Kingsmill Cat; trap two, Hello Pierre; trap three, Kiltrea Dawn; trap four, More Ruby; trap five, Cactus Coney; trap six, Ninja Nagato.

The Red Mills 2019 Easter Unraced Stake semi-final two: trap one, Clares Tavern; trap two, Brownshill Shep; trap three, Sarahs Super Ted; trap four, Black Yogi; trap five, Theynoitall; trap six, Misterin Dolly.

The 2019 Enniscorthy April Stakes final: trap one, Rathsilla Alli; trap two, Rocket Turbo; trap three, Ninja Penny; trap four, Last Minute Lady; trap five, Blitzem Bill; trap six, Philitiger.

April 18 results - race one, Fáilte Roimh an Taispeáin Grounds Stakes: 1, Ballinaboola Jet (owner, Niamh Murphy, Ballinaboola), 29.18; 2, Marwood Vale, 29.49.

Race two, The Model County 525 Stakes: 1, Vinegarhilltommy (owner, Pat Hyland, Enniscorthy), 29.06; 2, Running Sharp, 29.41.

Race three, The Red Mills 2019 Easter Unraced Stake, round two, heat one: 1, Hello Pierre (owner, Susan Hennessy, Co. Kilkenny; trainer, Paul Hennessy), 28.90; 2, Cactus Coney, 29.18.

Race four, heat two: 1, Kiltrea Dawn (owner, John Doyle, Kiltrea), 29.27; 2, Brownshill Shep, 29.37.

Race five, heat three: 1, Sarahs Super Ted (owners, Brendan Doyle and Thomas Ryan, Co. Carlow), 29.26; 2, Theynoitall, 29.47.

Race six, heat four: 1, Ninja Nagato (owner, Terry Coveney, Essex; trainer, Margaret Fortune, Co. Kilkenny), 28.85; 2, Black Yogi, 29.23.

Race seven, The 2019 Enniscorthy April Stakes semi-final: 1, Blitzem Bill (owner, Susan Hennessy, Co. Kilkenny; trainer, Paul Hennessy), 28.60; 2, Philitiger, 28.77.

Race eight, The Track Side Diner 525 Stakes: 1, Kiltrea Shay (owner, John Doyle, Kiltrea), 28.78; 2, Tip Top Bowie, 29.06.

Race nine, The 2019 Enniscorthy April Stakes semi-final: 1, Last Minute Lady (owner, Denis Lennon, Co. Kilkenny), 28.81; 2, Rocket Turbo, 28.82.

Race ten, The Slán Abhaile 525 Stakes: 1, Bluebell China (owner, Brian Ellard, Co. Carlow), 28.94; 2, Cactus Seacrest, 29.50.