Guy grabs another sprint victory at Thurles

With the season drawing to a close for the major event contenders and the classics settled for another year, one of the more entertaining features of the top grade action on the local scene in 2018 has been vibrant Open race sprinting at Thurles throughout the season and a stalwart at that top level, Eamon O’Brien & John Byrne’s Knockalton Guy made an overdue return to winning ways in sparkling fashion on Saturday last.

Unlucky when encountering bumping on St Leger Final night at Limerick last time, that rare venture outside of Thurles followed a fall in his previous outing at his home track but game as you could wish for, the June 2016 whelp was back close to his best to register a sixth win of his career.

Breaking on terms from Trap 3, Knockalton Guy (Cracking Man/Turbine Tulip) this time ensured safe passage when impressively drawing out a two length lead on the long run to the bend and chased by solid benchmark Monadreen Sky, his effort when extending further clear to the home-straight thoroughly impressed as he would hold a four length advantage when galloping powerfully to the line. Stopping the clock in a fast 17.86 (-10), he returns to the top of the Thurles sprint ladder and will remain a feared opponent in any top grade company when allowed freedom to display the full range of his abilities.

 

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