‘Shanks’ wins on the double

THERE WAS a good turn-out at Enniscorthy Dog Track on Monday for the benefit night for the New Ross Secondary School featuring the second round of the April stakes.

Piercestown owner, trainer and breeder ‘Shanks’ Whelan enjoyed a fine double in heats two and three. Piercestown Moll completed her fifth straight win in heat two when powering home to score an easy win, the 14th of her career, and this 56-pounder is punching above her weight. Her winning time was 29.21.

Piercestown Nial got back on the winning trail in the next heat when overcoming trouble at the first bend and running very wide off the last bend before getting up on the line to beat Millands Bob by a short head in a time of 29.77.

The fastest run of the night and the hot favourite for outright honours came in heat one when the John Codd and Diana Brody-owned Tagalong Roy powered to a very impressive 20th career win when going to the front off the third bend to race clear for a fast time win of 28.79. Roy seems to have all the attributes, as he starts and stays very well, and it appears he will have to make a mess of things if he is to be beaten.

Heat four saw Faypoint Lisa get back to winning ways for her Gorey owners in a good run of 29.12. The Kingsmill Messi unraced stake semi-finals were also decided, and Co. Carlow owner Henry Kelly had the hot favourites in both. Karlow Leader had to settle for the runners-up spot though as Slaneyside Rhona showed great battling power for one so young, only a January 2016 whelp, to get the better of the Leader in the drive for the line in a good 29.13.

It’s a shame she has drawn trap six in the final as this trap will prove very difficult for her to overcome, and the Karlow runners must now be favoured to lift this week’s final prize as Karlow Rocket maintained his unbeaten run when taking the other semi in 29.22. Both are well drawn, though the runner-up, Matty’s Coutinho, ran very well also and would not be out of it if more improvement is forthcoming.