Lacken Charlie maintains super form for Dowling

IT must be quite a while since we had a nine-race programme at Tralee Track on a Friday night and people were heading for home well before 10pm, with the last race at 9.42, and the main talking point was a brilliant run of 17.54 over the 325yds trip (S2 class) by Lacken Charlie, owned and trained by Gerard Dowling, of Listowel.

A statistic worth noting about Lacken Charlie, an August ’14 son of Kinloch Brae and Lacken Queenie, was that he had never been out of the first three in ten previous starts, something really difficult to achieve for a sprinter, and he was seeking his fifth victory. He had been beaten into second place last time out by Knockeen Ridge, which opposed again, and these two were sent off the 2/1 joint favourites.

Knockeen Ward, it should be added, was also seeking his fifth victory, from just six starts at that, and it was no surprise to see the two of them dominating in the race itself, with Lacken Charlie displaying explosive early pace from trap 3 to be two lengths in front of Knockeen Ridge(trap 2) rounding the first bend and he stayed firmly in control to the line where he had a length and a half to spare from Roger O’Rahilly’s charge, with three lengths back to Ask Da Boys.

Over 525yds, for A0 class, the fastest run of 28.74 was produced by the Neilus O’Connell-trained Razldazl Beth, which had won over 570yds the previous Saturday night. It had been tight at the line in that 570yds race, with just a head in her favour, and it was even tighter on this occasion, with a short head the winning margin over the early-paced Millridge Grant.

Just like Lacken Charlie, this lady is ultra consistent. This was her 14th victory from 66 starts and she has been placed a quite remarkable 40 times.

Back in fifth place was the Maurice O’Connor-trained Col- lege Bell, a short-head second to Misty Supreme in the final of the €4,000-to-the-winner Kerry Group Hospital Sweepstake a week previously. This time, however, she never showed with a chance.

Also inside 29.00secs on the night were Spirit Bostoncon (28.94) and Eagle Express (28.99), while the other winners were: Kilcurra Fozzy, 18.19; Cosmic Doll, 29.33; Dromscarramedody, 17.99; Lacey Lady, 29.48; Goteen Fred, 29.15.

Photo by www.deniswalshphotography.com Sponsor Dan Dowling presents the winner’s trophy to winning owner John O’Donoghue after Killahas Brandy won the Dan and Chris Dowling and Family Buster Final at the Ballydonoghue GAA Benefit Night at the Dogs on Saturday. Included, from left, are Paddy...