Caisleán Brian wins top-graded race

THE concluding A3 race over 525 yards was the top-graded event in Galway on Thursday night and it went to the Athenry-owned Caisleán Brian, a 3/1 chance in trap three.
Martin Griffin’s Nebraska West in five and the 4/5 favourite, So They Say, in trap five, were best away and at the opening bend, they were joined by Serious Dream. As they made their way down the back, Serious Dream raced into a one-length lead from So They Say but at this stage, Caisleán Brian was making great progress on the wide outside. At the third bend, the Athenry-owned black became the new front runner and went on to win by four-and-a-quarter lengths in 29.29 from So They Say and Cloonee Star.
The Clare-owned Knockcallan Girl and Aulton Hawk were going well in the  the concluding stages of the first race of the night, an A9-graded 525. The Tuam-owned reserve runner, Combo Queen in trap six, the eventual winner, and Knockcallan Girl in four, set the pace from the start. Cornering well at the first bend, Knockcallan Girl set up a  a three-length lead turning down the back with the trap-two runner, Aulton Hawk, challenging for second place racing to halfway. However, Knockcallan’s lead was brought back over the final two bends when the Miss Laura Connolly-owned reserve runner, Combo Queen (College Causeway-Tyrur Hillary) went clear on the run in to win by five and three parts of a length in 29.92 from Knockcallan Girl owned by Michael Mahony from the Miltown Malbay area. Aulton Hawk, making his debut run for Pat Hogan, Templemaley, took third place.
Ballyea-based trainer, John Browne and Gussie Clair and members of the Rineanna syndicate from Liscannor had plenty to shout about after the result of race five, an A8-graded 525. Their Runway Sally was the 6/4 joint favourite in trap two and she quickly went about her business to lead by two lengths at the first bend. After trouble among the chasing pack, Contentious in trap three took up the challenge from the halfway mark but Runway Sally had a comfortable lead at this stage and the daughter of Royal Impact-Burnpark Cuckooo stayed the course to win by nearly three lengths in 20.39. The Clare-owned Contentious (Thomas Flanagan) was runner-up.
Another Clare owner, Sean McAllen from Shannon also visited the winners’ arena after the the next race, an A6-graded 525. The money-on favourite in trap five was the reserve and North Clare Clare runner, Kineilty Black. However, once the traps lifted, Sean McAllen’s Tyrap White in the red sheet was the one to beat. The son of Top Savings-Tyrap Silly had a great run on the inside and while Sherco Tick in trap two was in close contention, he went slightly wide and Tyrap White went clear down the back. Sherco Tick tried hard to come back but as they turned for home, the Shannon-owned dog was well away and he raced on for a five-and-a-half-length win in 29.56. Clonreddan Tara, owned by Tom Keane, Cooraclare,was third home.
Gort owner, John Quinn and Peter Connolly, provided the winner of the next race, an A5 graded event for which the Athenry-owned Outback Kirsty in trap four was sent off the even-money favourite.
Astronomer’s Star, also owned by Sean McAllen, Outback Kirsty and Sellout Fast Fit were lined across the track and as they rounded the first bend where the Peter Connolly and John Quinn-owned Sellout Fast Fit cut inside to take a two-length lead turning down the back straight. Approaching the third bend, the son of Killahan Phanter and Post Again still held the upperhand and remained in front to beat Outback Kirsty by one length with a clock of 29.76.