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You are > Home > Square Bar races to Lee Strand 550 victory
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Thursday, June 10, 2010
Square Bar races to Lee Strand 550 victory
By Murt Murphy
THE crowds certainly flocked to the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium, Tralee, on Friday night to witness an exciting finale to this year’s Lee Strand 550 and they got value for money, even if the final may have lacked the quality of former years.
There was barely standing room as the dogs went to traps for one of the most open Lee Strand 550’s in recent years with Kiln Kylie shading favouritism at 2/1, ahead of the first of Paul Hennessy’s two, Priceless Palm who was a 3/1 shot. It was 4/1 Square Bar and Shaneboy Sport.
The break was going to be all-important to the likes of Kiln Kylie who needed to be in front at the opening bend.
But the favourite just did not have to pace to get the front and instead it was Green Flash, on the outside, who broke best of all. If he could make it around the bend in front, then it was certainly race on.
Unfortunately for his Kerry connections, Green Flash just got clipped and instead it was Priceless Palm who swept to the front but surely a bitch, who is better at 750 yards, could not win the Lee Strand?
The answer was no, because half-way down the back, Priceless Palm was challenged on the inside by her kennel mate Square Bar. He drove to the front, to lead at the second last bend with Priceless Palm and Kiln Kylie giving chase.
Square Bar had shown decent form in his earlier races and with some decent times from half-way so he stayed on well down the home straight as Kiln Kylie made rapid late headway.
But the winner was not to caught and Square Bar had a length and half to spare on the line, winning in 30.47 for owner Michael Dunne from Portlaoise.
White Coat had every chance of taking the Lee Strand consolation final after displaying bags of early pace but he was collared down the back straight by Movealong Storm.
Once she hit the front, she stayed on well to win by three lengths in 30.09 – quicker than the final itself – for Denis Barry from Mitchelstown.
Cara Rose was a classy winner of the opener, rewarding those who had backed her into 4/6 with a decent turn of foot as she swept past early leader Steeple Rd Guna , before racing clear to land the spoils by three and half lengths in 29.18 for C O’Brien and R O’Connor from Newcastle West.
The quickest time of the night came in the second race of the night when the 5/4 favourite Lisahane Cracker took it up just approaching the second bend from Kits Reading to race right way in the shape of a precocious sort, and he romped to a four and half lengths success in a superb 28.76 for John Kelliher from Listowel.
There was no more popular a winner than Jeff’s Rocket who appeared to be ignored by everyone and was sent off a 4/1 shot in the Lee Strand 550 (A4) sweepstake final.
He led from the opening bend and he maintained his effort all the way to the line, winning by half a length from Kielduff West in 30.53 for Jimmy Griffin and trained by his son Tony.
One other eye-catching run came in the Lee Strand Light 325, when Kilree Billy, who was a class dropper, absolutely flew from half-way and beat Let Him Tarry and Jeff’s Brett by two and half lengths, winning in a super quick 17.59, which proves how quick the surface was.
The winner is owned by Patrick Stanley from Ballyhahill, up near Foynes, Co Limerick.
The line up for this Friday’s semi-finals of the Paddy O’Sullivan Race of Champions is as follows:
First semi-final
Trap One: Colourful Champ
Trap Two: Lassa Extreme
Trap Three: Belvedere Champ
Trap Four: Beaming Dilemma
Trap Five: Tyrur Dylan (m)
Trap Six: Three One Three (m)
Second semi-final
Trap One: Sevenheads Bay
Trap Two: Tulllymurry Act
Trap Three: Bar Blackstone
Trap Four: Oran Legend
Trap Five: Very Urgent
Trap Six: Titan Tyrone (w)
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