Richard Whitley’s Whitty Big Jack landed the featured Midweek A7 at Curraheen last night. In the wars in last week’s semi-finals, he ensured there was no repeat this time as she flashed from traps and led by a couple of lengths racing to the turn.
He bounded further clear of the trouble behind at the opening bend and no danger ever emerged thereafter. Strand Butch showed smart speed in defeat but the bird had flown and the clearly very promising Whitty Big Jack raced home five and a half clear in 29.14.
Rosbeg Alfie (Droopys Maldini – Droopys Betty) ran out a comprehensive winner of the opener for Helen Wadsworth. The pup showed real promise when leading to the turn in a much better race on his debut and he made the most of this opportunity when leading at the bend and stretching right away to score by nine lengths in 29.48.
Away All Star (Droopys Scolari – Ard Flash) made a winning start to her career with a plucky effort in race two. Kieran O’Brien and Cornelius Kelleher’s March 2011 whelp was baulked at the opening bend but she managed to get around in second place behind Navahoe General. The half-sister to Barefoot Bullet had work to do to catch the leader but she showed smart speed to slip through along the inside at the third bend. Strong from there, she skipped four and a half lengths clear in 29.53.
The third race was a re-run of last Thursday’s void sprint and Pretty Choice (Tyrur Ted – Any Customer) pulled out all the stops to land the spoils for Niamh McCarthy of Donoughmore. The bitch broke best of all but was crowded as runners challenged on both sides. In determined fashion she made her way back to the front leaving the second bend and she raced away to a 18.29 victory.
Sarges Houdini (Woodcraft Romeo – Sarges Zena) made every yard to take the fourth race for Edward Murphy of Knocknaheeny. A flying 3.33 early split saw the bitch clear early and though Yea Lord made significant late inroads, the leader held on for a length victory in 29.89.
 Super Showman (Droopys Maldini – Maxgrove Mist) took the fifth race for Vincent Browne of Cloghroe. He showed nice pace to take the lead from the fast-starting Loskeran Usain as they rounded the opening bends. Valentine Bud showed pace down the back but the leader ran on strongly to score by two and a half lengths from the last named in 29.58.
The two semi-finals of the Thursday A6 Stake closed out the card and the Johnny Linehan-trained Golfers Tiger (Kinloch Brae – Youraisemeup) produced a really fetching performance to take the first heat.
Slowly away, she showed some pace to the turn but sought the rails all the while. Fourth as she moved onto the fence between the bends, she switched to overdrive racing out of the second turn. Cronody Maldini led at this point but Golfers Tiger showed big pace to lead at the third and she ran on strongly to score by a length and a half from the early leader in 29.18.
The second heat went the way of Butterbridge Fox (Hondo Black – Boo Boos Baby), trained by Kieran Lynch. Modestly away, he was baulked early but showed nice pace to join leader Boola Power between the opening bends. In a share of the lead down to the third turn, he asserted between the bends to secure a length and a half victory in 29.72. There should be plenty more to come from him.