Double success for Ballylongford’s Bourke

THE Ballylongford kennels of Michael Bourke were very much to the fore on last Friday night’s card as litter comrades Brindle Ciss and Ballyboy King both toasted success with the latter posting 28.75 in race 9, which proved the fastest time of the night.

Ballyboy King has been steadily working his way up through the grades in recent months, and the early paced son of Aero Ardiles and Slender Lady looked a leading fancy sporting the red jacket in this A1 contest. The 6/4jf broke smartly and showed good early pace down to the first, which was only matched by Young fella thanks out in 6. The pair raced stride for stride rounding the opening bends, however Young fella thanks appeared to be hampered by Sign On Aki on his immediate inside allowing Ballyboy King to make the running down the back. The winner pulled a couple of lengths clear off the last however there was plenty trouble amongst the chasing pack in behind which might account for the considerable winning margin of 7 ½ lengths. Young fella thanks stayed on to take second, 1 ½ lengths clear of Sign On Aki.

Litter sister Brindle Ciss had opened Bourke’s account for the night in the previous race. While she surrendered plenty ground to the early paced Tokenfire Abbie early doors, she really began to rally from halfway. Closing the gap to the leader with every stride, she reversed a 4 length deficit at the second bend to lead off the last and really outpaced her rival on the dash up the home straight to record a 2 ½ length success in 28.91. Tims Pearl ran on to take a further 5 lengths in arrears.

Curryhills Oisin (Sir Paddy/Biddy Mac) had not enjoyed the best of starts to his racing career having been out of the money on his first 5 outings. However he finally ‘broke his maiden’ in Race 4 which was for Grade A5. Drawn on the rails, the Aiden Murphy owned runner received a dream run down to the opening bend with the early paced Watergate Mike moving out from his trap 2 berth. The latter led the way to the mid-point; however Curryhills Oisin took full advantage of his pitch on the rails to make the running into the third. The early leader challenged again on the outside between bends, however the winner was not to be outdone and held off his rival by 3 parts of a length passing the line in 29.28. There were 3 sprints on the 10 race card and quickest clock was recorded by the James Lynch owned Helenas Paddy who scored in Race 6. The ‘Nov 16 son of Sir Paddy and Kenora justified odds of 6/4 when recorded a 1 length success over Cheeky Bob in 17.78. The winner made a slick start from trap 3 and once he made the opening bend in front he was never for catching in this S3 event.

Also winning on the night were Pennylane Darrs 17.99, Fizz Time 29.05, Villa Dawn 18.11, Looster Baxter 29.25, Riptide Sonas 29.22 and Garfiney Champ 29.45.