McDonagh family claims top race

THE McDonagh family from Kinvara won the top-graded race in Galway on Friday night with Glenfort Lee.
This was the concluding A3 graded 525 in which Dan the Navigator went off the 7/4 favourite from trap four. There was a pretty even break but Glenfort Lee showed good early speed to snatch the lead at the first bend from Smooth Deano. Dominating matters down the far side, Glenfort Lee (Hades Rocket-Glenfort Rumble) raced on for a comfortable six-and-a-quarter-length win in 29.27 for owner, Gina McDonagh and her father and trainer, John McDonagh.
The best clock of the night went to Glitter Freeze in an A4 graded 525. Trained by Pat Curtin of Monard and owned by him and Johnathan Miles from Warwick, Glitter Freeze (Scarty Lad-Ham Ram) was the market leader at 5/4 with Rebellious Diva also well supported at 6/4. As it turned out, the market leaders were first to the bend with Glitter Freeze in front by half a length. Down the far side, the winner went wide and Rebellious Diva switched inside to get on terms by the halfway mark. However, Glitter Freeze started to take control again from the third bend and at the line, had a length and three quarters to spare on Rebellious Diva, trained by Seamus Fahy for Killaloe owner, Nicola Downes. The winner’s clock was 29.15.
The first of six winners for Clare owners was Fitzler Chip (Colm and Oran Fitzgerald, Kilrush). This was in the first race on the card, an A8 graded 525 and the Kilrush-owned son of Go Wild Teddy White Wedding, had the best start from trap four. He was two lengths ahead at the first and own the back was well on his way to a  six-and-a-half-length win in 30.02 from Viper Castle (Michael Clancy, Kilrush). Third placed was Parker’s Edge, the 4/5 favourite, owned by Pat Curtin, Monard.
It was an all-West Clare affair in the concluding stages of an S8-S9 graded 530-yard race. Leading  at the first was Mary Browne’s Burnpark Impact followed by Nebraska Royal and Viper Hider. However, Burnpark Impact went wide when rounding the bend and this allowed Nebraska Royal to take control as they headed for home. While Viper Hider made a bold bit before they reached the line, Nebraska Royal (Royal Impact- Nebraska) held out to win by a neck in 19.93 for owner, Martin Griffin, Caherea. Runner-up was Viper Hider (Michael Clancy, Kilrush) and third home, two lengths  back, was Fitzler Bolt (Michael Fitzgerald, Kilrush).
The Des Flaherty-trained Rinnwood Val led early from Killerk Sammy in an S5 graded 350. As they swung for home, Killerk Sammy came on terms but the trap-five runner, Paris Jane (Ballymac Maeve-Criminal Asset), trained by Donal Cooney, was also well in contention and in the run for the line got up to win by a short head in 19.55 from Killerk Sammy. The winner is owned in Ennis by John Doyle and the runner-up is trained by Kieran Nugent, Ballyea and owned by him and Aaron Nugent.
The winning streak for Clare owners continued in race five for S7 graders with the honours in this 350-yards race going to Michael Davoren’s Wilbrook Fire (Ciara’s Castle-Missouri Dame). Coming to the first bend, Wilbrook Fire led Clifden Blue by a length. Railing well, the eventual winner was two in front after the bend and while Willrose Junior came with a late charge, the Ennistymon-owned brindled bitch was full value for her length-and-a-quarter win in 19.50.
North Clare owners, Johnny and Aoife Burke from Tubber, kept the Banner flag flying with their Sues Princess winning an A5 graded 525. Bumblebee David in two led by two lengths from Constejack in five with Sue’s Princess (trap one) in third place. Constejack challenged for the lead  at the halfway mark but the leading pair went wide when rounding the third bend and Sue’s Princess seized on the opportunity to close in by the rail. When they head reached the line, the Johnny Burke-trained Sue’s Princess (Head Bound-Boozed Lorraine) had prevailed by a neck from Bumblebee David. The winner’s clock was 29.56. Third place went to Sunside King (Michael McDonnell, Kilrush).
The Thurles-owned Capoola Savings (trap six) won an A4 graded 525 and from the start it was a contest between him and the trap-one runner, Annagh Spot. Racing apart, they led the rest of the field by a length at the first bend and down the far side, Annagh Spot had gone a two-length lead. However, from the halfway mark, Capoola Savings started to gain ground and he took over the number one spot as they swung for home to win by three and a quarter lengths in 29.34. Runner-up, Annagh Sport, is trained by Sean Cooke for Marie Cooke, Kilbeacanty.