Swiss Storm goes fastest in Lee Strand 550 A3 heats

THE opening round heats of the prestigious Lee Strand 550 (A3) dominated Friday night’s card at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium. Ten heats in all were run. The event carries a winner’s purse of €10,000.

Quickest on the night was the Michael McEllisitrim owned Swiss Storm who produced a phenomenal run in heat 5, stopping the clock in an impressive 29.92.

Hall of Fame inductee Liam Dowling had a treble on the card, while Ballyduff’s Chris Houlihan scored an impressive double.

Swiss Storm’s (Laughil Blake/ Melodys Abbie)classy performance puts her firmly in the frame as a contender for this year’s renewal and she certainly impressed the large attendance with her trap to line victory in Heat 5. The March ’16 bitch went off the joint 6/4 favorite and a devastating turn of early pace propelled her into an early lead which she extended to 7 lengths from Marzion Bonnie at the line. Having won her maiden back in mid-February in 29.05, Swiss Storm is certainly a bitch going in the right direction.

Liam Dowling opened his account in Heat 2 when MC Razl (Definite Opinion/ Ballymac Razl) finished with a flourish having taken up the running at the third bend . Indeed, the Sept ’16 whelp looks a real staying sort as he pulled 7 lengths clear of second placed Canon Jack in 30.50. Dowling also claimed the penultimate heat of the night when Ballymac Pele (Ballymac Matt/ Vicraz) justified odds of 4/6. Owned by Jane Dowling, Pele began his career in GMHD Juvenile Classic and appears to have really matured in the interim since his 2nd round exit. He trapped really well from trap 1 and held the lead by a couple of lengths rounding the opening curves. He had the field well strung out down the back straight and while his advantage was reduced on the run in, the winning time was an impressive 30.11. The performance of the runner-up Aines Princess is certainly one for the notebook as she made up considerable ground to finish 4 lengths off the winner having made a sluggish start. The hat-trick was completed for the Ballymac kennels when Pulgarcito landed the spoils in Race 9, which was an A3 contest over the 525 yd trip. A litter comrade to Ballymac Pele, Pulgarcito didn’t enjoy the best of starts and lay in 4th position approaching the opening bend. However, he found his feet down the back straight and mounted a challenge on the outside of the early paced railer, Ballads For Life at the third bend. He swept past his rival with the minimum of fuss and left the field in his wake to record a 7 ½ length victory in 28.76.

Chris Houlihan holds a strong hand going into next Fridays second round with both Bowline Raider and Cashen Kuba both recording eye catching wins. Bowline Raider (Ballymac Vic/ Constant Charmer) didn’t make the best of starts from Trap 1 in the opening heat of the night, however he produced a powerful burst of pace from halfway and collared the 4/5 favourite Caint Agus Craic close home to record a 2 length success in 30.33. Houlihan completed his double in Heat 7 when the 4/6 ‘hotpot’ Cashen Kuba duly obliged from trap 1 in 30.10. The winner finished 1 ½ lengths clear of second placed Miss Pickpocket. The latter found trouble on the run to the opening bend, however she made up considerable ground on the winner from half way. Overall, it looks to be another competitive renewal of ‘The Lee Strand’ and next Fridays 2nd round is eagerly anticipated.

Other winners on the night were Packing Heat 30.13, Rallying Said So 30.40, Coom Mary Mattie 30.25, Millridge Blitz 30.52, and Native Treasure 30.19.