TRAPRISE - Porter all round after Mad double at Newbridge

TWICE a runner-up in his lightly raced puppy campaign, Four Porters (Burgess Bucks-Patterdale Donna) eased frustrations for the Madass Syndicate when shedding his maiden tag at the eleventh time of asking in the Parade Jackets A4 525 at Newbridge on Friday within a glorious fixture for the ownership group who enjoyed an elusive double on the night!

Trained by Fraser Black, the June 2022 whelp had reached a high of A2 with strong running placed form but was taking full advantage of his appealing ease in grade this time when breaking just behind the pace from an ideal trap 1 draw.

Gamely defending his inside pitch, Four Porters battled his way to second place, approaching the top of the backstraight and taking aim at a pacesetting rival readily reduced those arrears passing halfway before bounding clear to the home stretch. Confirming stout staying abilities thereafter, Four Porters claimed an emphatic first race win when drawing clear for a facile ten length winning verdict in 29.31.

Without penalty on the grading table for his next outing, he appears primed to build on this breakthrough success and can be fancied for a repeat next time, especially as he left traps an odds-on favourite on Friday, as a ten-race maiden!

Mimicking the proverbial buses, two would come at once for patient four-strong syndicate connections when their Knockshe Mal (Malachi-Five Alley Vicky) doubled his win tally in the later Wine & Dine Summer Special A3 525.

Also trained by Fraser Black, the lightly raced August 2022 whelp had shed his maiden with A6 victory back in March but in just a second start following that success, took a further upgrade in a promising runner-up performance last time. Housed in trap 6 with a wide seed for what was just his sixth career start on Friday, Knockshe Mal found further improvement in a highly impressive passage.

Breaking just behind the lead, the Black charge paced up well on the outside before sweeping across rivals at the opening bend. Two lengths to the good at the top of the backstraight, Knockshe Mal maintained a strong gallop on the bunny and never under serious threat, struck the line with three lengths to spare while posting a sharp 28.95. That new personal best will bring a rise to A2 next time but pleasingly progressive, he can be confidently fancied to cope with the upgrade.

MICKEY IS IN FOR THE KIL

A runner in sparkling form over recent weeks, it had been suggested that Aoife Loughnane’s Kilgarran Mickey (Pestana-Lemon Juliet) could have scope to exploit his current four-bend grading having joined the Open ranks for sprinting last time out and duly confirming the suspicion, a return to Limerick for Thursday’s Callaway Pro Am At Stud A3 525 saw him further extend impressive recent figures.

Adding to that latest 400-yard score at Mullingar, the September 2022 whelp was winning for the fifth time in his most recent eight outings despite just a moderate start from trap 6 in this return to the Dock Road. However, displaying the best early pace once in full stride, the Roscrea pup joined a sharp pacesetter while tackling the opening bend before charting a wide path to the backstraight.

Fully taking command on the run to halfway, the Loughnane prospect impressed to the closing bends but offered some renewed hope to his closest pursuer when again wide around those turns. Never for catching however, Kilgarran Mickey retained a snug two length winning margin to the line when improving to 28.96 for the trip. That winning time will ensure a small rise to A2, but he still looks to have ample scope to further exploit his grading on this evidence.

Out of luck when Cagey Pauline missed out on qualification from the Cloughtaney Kennels A3 550 Stake semi-finals at Clonmel on Friday following her smart opening round success, Christopher Delaney bounced straight back with semi-final victory for his litter comrade Cagey Billy (Pestana-Lilly Lula) in the Wear Your Parade Jackets A1 600 at Shelbourne Park on Saturday!

Within a remarkable run of form, the April 2022 whelp registered a hattrick when containing local rival Dazzes Beauts for A2 550-yard stake final victory at Limerick last time out and ably handling his upgrade for that success, found further career progression when leading throughout on Saturday.

From a level break in trap 6, the Roscrea charge displayed the best early pace for a two-length lead at the opening bend before effectively settling the race when extending further clear to the backstraight. Always in command thereafter, Cagey Billy ably contained the fast finish of a strong staying rival when seeing out the trip well for a one and half-length verdict in 32.42. That winning time will bring a rise to A0 upon completion of this week’s final, but Billy can hold every claim to compensate for the upgrade with victory.