Jumeirah Joe beats Clare rivals

Athenry owner, Ryan Ruane was the big winner in Galway on Friday night, his Jumeirah Joe coming out best in the top-graded A2 event over 525 yards.
The lead was exchanged between Unknown Tornado (at the first) and Peadars Touch (at the second) before Jumeirah Joe took over at the third and held out to win by a length and a half in 29.23 from  Ballycasey Star, trained by Leo Kelly for Don Gallery, Shannon. Beaten a short head into third place was the 5-4 favourite, Peadars Touch, trained by Donie Duggan for Peter Russell of Shannon.
Clare’s first win of the night came in the sixth race, which was an A6-graded 550 yards one. Going off the even-money favourite from trap four was the Roscrea-owned Malbay Marley. Although he challenged at the fourth bend, the one to finish the strongest was Knockdine Dazl, owned by Helen O’Brien, Miltown Malbay. The daughter of Razldazl Billy-Knockdine Lady was in trap two for her winning distance of three parts of a length in 30.97. The West Clare-owned Hugs for Heather (Ann McMahon) was second to cross the line.
The seventh race on the card, an A4-graded 525, went to Inagh owner Irene Barry, whose Kylea Dreamer got off to dream start from trap six. The daughter of Droopys Scolari-Cathy of Inagh kept up her race-winning tempo to hold out and beat Unknown Argument by three parts of a length with a time of 29.60. The West Clare-owned Astons Diamond (Lawrence Meaney and Kevin Burke) was third home, three lengths back.
Whistling Titan (Gina McDonagh, Kinvara) was beaten into second place by Badgerfort Joe, the five and a quarter lengths and 19.62 winner of the opening race, an S8/S9-graded sprint.
Owned by Peter Connolly and John Quinn, Gort, Sellout Fast Fit was also runner-up in his race – an S4 sprint- that went to Kilbannon Bertie in 19.10.
After leading at the opening bend, Forever Brae went clear of the rest of the field to deny Boherash Torpeo (Frank Casey, Stonehall) by nine-and-a-quarter lengths with a clock of 29.09 in an  A5-graded 525. Three lengths back for third place was Mine Rocket (Frank Browne, Quin).
Ballyvaughan owner, Brigid D’Arcy secured third place with her Glenfort Dusk in  an A5-graded 525, which was won in 32.17 by the locally owned O’Garney Princess (Hondo Black- Money Go Lucky) from Jeter Baby. The distances were four lengths and a neck.
Frank Browne’s Ebony Blitz was third home in an A3-graded 525.