Saturday’s SIS card proves hugely competitive

SATURDAY afternoons SIS card was again ultra competitive with some eye catching performances throughout the eight race programme.

Four of the eight races on offer were won in sub 29 second time with Shancol Ranger going quickest of all when recording a sensational 28.59 to land the spoils in Race 7. The going was rated .10 slow.

Owned by PJ Sugrue, the son of Laughil Blake and Airfield Mistake produced a flawless display from trap 4 to record a trap to line victory in this A1 contest at odds of 4/1.

A devastating turn of early foot catapulted the winner into an early lead which had extended to three lengths off the second bend. Promising and Fortfield Erin tried best to reduce the deficit with the latter recovering well from being crowed at the opening bend.

The early paced leader did appear to come back to the field slightly rounding the closing bends however he found plenty on the run to the line to score a three length success over Fortfield Erin who raced wide on the run in. Promised raced just in the shadow of the runner up and just lost out for second by a ‘short head’.

The proceeded race (A2) produced a grandstand finish with the Jer Kerins owned Confident Petal (Confident Rankin/ Coolavanny Sella) just doing enough to record her second win on the trot in 28.85.

Drawn in T.3, the Castleisland bitch surrendered early ground to the two runners on her immediate inside, Oak Shadow and Parson Mario. The pair ran stride for stride down to the opening bend and the battle for supremacy continued right throughout the race.

Confident Petal sat in fourth passing the sprint boxes and was a good four lengths off the pace. However, she began to edge closer from here on and joined the early leaders off the last bend.

It was almost a line of three passing the stand but momentum was firmly on the side of the eventual winner and she just got her nose in front at the line to edge it by a short head. Oak Shadow lost nothing in defeat in second, a length clear of Promising.

What a servant Sign On Garfinny has been for owner Anthony Slattery and the game Oct ’14 whelp claimed a 23rd career success when landing Race 3, which was for grade A2.

Sporting the black jacket, the winner broke well and disputed the early lead with Mileheight Mollie.

He got his head in front off the second bend and really began to find his stride down the back straight.

His early rival appeared leg weary by the third bend, however, Lassa Excitement failed to negotiate a way passed here and got badly hampered in his pursuit of the leader. Sign On Garfinny stayed on well up the home straight and stopped the clock in 28.96. Lassa Excitement eventually got passed Mileheight Mollie to finish five anda-half lengths off the pace, with the bitch a further length back in third.

The Johnny Regan owned Baltovin Trump (Tyrur Big Mike/ Buffys Girl) came in as a reserve in trap 2 in the opening race(A3) of the day and duly obliged in 28.98 to record a third career win from seven outings.

The youngster took a flyer from trap 2 and held his rivals at bay throughout. The 4/1 shot held off the challenge of Denville Gypsy by one length with Headleys Bud completing the trio in third three lengths back, having made up considerable ground from halfway.

Also winning on the day were Spirit Eclipse 29.29, Pumpkin Brandy 29.24, Clodaghs Pride 29.11 and Bville Glen 29.18