Odds-on favourites beaten in ON3 semi-finals

YOUTH was very much to the fore at the Oakview venue on Saturday night, it being a fund-raiser for Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland, and heading up a ten-race programme were two semi-finals of an unraced 525 sweepstake for ON3 class (winner, €1,000).

Both semi-finals had 1/2 favourites and both were in front off the first bend, looking really good, but one of them, Global Reset, suddenly lost his action on the back straight and, although he recovered well, he was beaten into second place (three and a half lengths adrift) by the Chris Houlihan-trained Cashen Dolphin.

The other 1/2 favourite, Lone Control, was unable to match 6/1 outsider, Skidroes Jane, from the third bend home and lost out to her by a length and a half.

Chris Houlihan actually has three runners in the final this Saturday night, all litter brothers by Cashen Mafuma out of Coleenbee Orla, and that gives him a particularly strong hand, but it is very hard to ignore the fact that Global Reset clocked an estimated 28.94 in the first round for Sean Angland, of Mallow, and this fellow has to be given the vote to win from a trap 3 draw.

The winning times in last Saturday’s semi-finals, on standard going, were 29.45 (Cashen Dolphin) and 29.55 (Skidroes Jane) and it will be very interesting to see the kind of clock that will be done by the winner this Saturday night.

The draw is (trap order): Skidroes Jane, Cashen Dolphin, Global Reset, Lone Control, Cashen Direct, Cashen Maffeo.

The ninth race, which was a buster event for A4 class over the standard trip, carried the name of Castleisland Presentation Secondary School, which will be competing in the Under 15 World Schools Cup in Croatia next month, and the winner, the Patrick O’Connor-trained Dooncaha Blaze, clocked the fastest time of the night, which was 28.85.

Dooncaha Blaze was sent off the even-money favourite by Patsy Browne, the only bookmaker framing the odds, and it was a case of very easy pickings for those who backed him. He brought tremendous early pace into play from trap 4 to be a clear leader around the opening bend and he wound up beating a reserve, Millridge Aero, by five lengths for what was his third victory from just five starts.

The Chris Houlihan-trained Cashen Desperito clocked a brilliant 17.62 for the 325yds trip, while the other winners were: Steeple Rd Sky, 29.55; Fear Dubh, 29.82; Solo Style, 30.29; Curious Vic, 17.86; Shandid Rebel, 29.17; Headleys Nancy, 28.98. The going was standard.

SUNDAY SIS MEETING

FASTEST at Sunday’s SIS session was the locally-owned Zingers, on 28.93 (.10 slow), and the other winners were: Yesterdays News, 29.85; Quivers Rum, 29.50; Hawthorn Bonny, 29.33; Saleen Luke, 29.58; Millridge Luna, 29.14; Itsall Luckypolly, 29.24; Mileheight Matt, 29.06.