Coolavanny Ella impresses in A3 sweepstake heats

THERE was a good festive atmosphere at Tralee Track on Saturday night, it being the run-up to Christmas and all that, and an eleven-race programme provided some very exciting fare, with the main focus on four first-round heats of yet another sweepstake sponsored by the Supporters’ Club, this one for A3 class over 525yds and worth €1,500 to the winner.

As on Friday night, the 525yds races had to be started from the 500yds box, which again had very bad light in front of it, but the performances in the sweepstake in particular were certainly not adversely affected.

That great Castleisland sportsman, Noel Browne, might have seen his bitch, Coolavanny Ella, finish unplaced behind Crossfield Liz in the final of the Red Mills unraced sweepstake 15 nights previously in an estimated 29.45, but she was bouncing in quite a different way this time and she dramatically improved to 28.74 in the first of the sweepstake heats.

Noel admitted beforehand that he was fancying her fairly strongly and, marked up at even-money by the only bookmaker again present, Patsy Browne, she duly did the business in very impressive fashion from a trap 1 draw (Tralee owes a debt of gratitude to Patsy Browne, by the way, for his attendance).

Coolavanny Ella led off the first bend from Kilcow Amy and Cruzin Buster and she totally dominated thereafter, finishing four and a half lengths in front of Stormy Vincent and a further six and a half lengths ahead of Dads Promise.

Clearly, she has become the leading contender in the event, though 28.80 was clocked in heat 2 by Liam Dowling’s bitch, Ballymac Jackie, and the Patrick O’Connor-trained Clounbrane Kerry posted 28.98 in heat 3 when shading the verdict in a photo-finish with Parason Mario.

Heat 4 was won in 29.32 by Pennylane Rocky, which came out on the right side of another photo finish.

The semi-finals take place this Friday night as back-up for the final of the Kingdom Derby and entertainment of a high order is guaranteed, with, presumably, the problem with the 525yds box sorted out.

Once again, there was a remarkable tote dividend last Friday night, with Denville Gypsy paying €152.80 to a €1 place bet after finishing runner-up to Lassinagh Super in the second race.

The other winners were: Boomtown Tony, 18.08; Lassinagh Super, 29.77; Feora Neptune, 17.95; Lisahane Secreto, 29.71; Millridge Dame, 29.18; Rathass Ward, 29.21; Villa Dawn, 18.06.