Royal Rocket hits target

February 26th meeting at Mullingar featured all eight first round heats of a 525 yds N2/N3 unraced sweepstake which is sponsored by Thomas and Deano McLoughlin who operate a video service.The programme also included four graded races. Delvin owner Joe McKenna supplied the winner of the first heat of the sweepstake with Turn on Catunda. After breaking in front he held off the challenge of Crinkill Beauty to the last bend where he went on to score by three and a half lengths in 29.98. Ardera Tammy broke in front in the second heat and made every yard of the running to win by ten lengths from Bridies Queen in 29.91. The winner was recording the first leg of a double for her Rhode owner Paddy McCormack.Navan owner Oliver Bray recorded the first leg of a double in the third heat with Royal Flame. This even money favourite broke in front and resisted the challenge of Curlin all the way to the line to claim the spoils by half a length in 30.51.In the fourth heat Crinkill Lilly broke in front and made all the running to score by an extending seven lengths from Welostaleinster in 30.25. The winner is owned in Birr by Ms. Kelly Ann Milne.Glencon did the business in the fifth heat for his Geashill owner Liam Kirley. From a very fast break he made all the running to win by four lengths form the chasing Kilmalady Hare in 29.66.Rhode owner Paddy McCormack completed the double in heat six with Ardera Dilemma. From a level break she took the lead in the back straight and went on to win by four lengths from Tahina Cool in 29.91.The best return of the session was posted in heat seven by Royal Rocket and was completing the double for his Navan owner Oliver Bray. This even money favourite broke in front and gave a smashing front running display to score by a distance from Bornacurra Mia in 29.58.In the eighth heat Glen Eorna broke in front and made all the running to have a comfortable five lengths victory form Royal Mistress in 29.83. This odds-on winner is owned in Dublin by Tom Kirley.The 400 yds third race resulted in a dead heat between Big Punter which is owned in Kells by Noel Carry and Lowtown Serenade which is owned in Naas by Michael Kenny. Queen Amy broke in front and led into the home straight where the dead headers came in the last few strides to snatch victory in 22.31.In the 525 yds fifth race Tied Cottage took the lead in the early stages and held pole position all the way under pressure from Lady Sprinter to win by two and a half lengths in 30.18 for his Navan joint owners Kevin Mallon and Pat Lynch.Daraghose and Hey Sharapova broke in front in the 525 yds seventh ace and disputed the lead into the home straight. On the run to the line Daraghose found an extra gear and went on to win by four lengths in 30.18 for his Co. Meath owner Pat Harnett.From a level break in the 400 yds eleventh race Lingaun Splasher won the dash to the bend and held on under pressure from Boyhill Fox to score by two and a half lengths in 22.00. This three to one winner is owned in Tipperary by Joseph Kennedy.Trap draws for Finals of Fionan Memorial Sweepstake and final of Accelerated Drain Cleaning Sweepstake to be decided on Saturday March 7thFionan O"Shea 525 yds MemorialTrap 1: Freano LadTrap 2: Lady RhythmTrap 3: Kildonnell BlueTrap 4: Hanstown VieriTrap 5: T10 RamboTrap 6: Bombay Blonde (w)Accelerated Drain Cleaning 805 ydsTrap 1: Summerfield GiftTrap 2: If looks could killTrap 3: Rough MariahTrap 4: Navan BlueTrap 5: Pretty NicolaTrap 6: Her eyes are BlueBombay Blonde makes it three from three on Saturday February 28thSaturday nights racing at Mullingar comprised of two semi-finals of the Fionan O"Shea Memorial A6/A7 525 yds plus the semi-finals of the Accelerated Drains open 805.The first semi-final of the Fionan O"Shea was won by the Joe Gavin (Mullingar) owned Bombay Blonde. Having been led by Freano Lad and T10 Rambo for most of the journey she came late on the scene to snatch a length victory in 30.28.The second semi-final developed into a two way battle between Lady Rhythm and Hanstown Vieri and the issue appeared to rest between this pair at the turn for home when the John Byrne (Mullingar) owned Hanstown Vieri produced a late finish to earn a photo dead heat decision with the Frank Seery trained Lady Rhythm in 30.56.Mr Liam Carr"s (Clare/Galway) owned Summerfield Gift produced a smashing staying performance in the first semi-final of the Accelerated Drain Open 805 when he made all the running to win by a length and a quarter from the evens favourite Rough Mariah in 47.30.Pretty Nicola was well in arrears for most of the journey to the front running Her Eyes are Blue in the second semi-final. The Carberry trained Black picked up the pace on the home straight to win by a quarter of a length in 46.99. The winner is jointly owned by R and B Carberry (Meath).Proceedings opened with a win for the Paddy McCormack trained Ardavagga Dazl who made all the running to win by four lengths from Foxhill Lucky in 34.24 over the 600 yds trip. The winner is owned by Sean O"Meara (Birr).Clonarrow Rocket owned by P.J. Rigney (Offaly) was sent out the 6/4 favourite to do the business in the third race. This much improved Jan "07 produced his best showing to date when making every yard of the running to score by nine lengths from More Mortor in best of night 29.75.Piladica owned by D.D.P.M. Syndicate (Kildare) which was a 4/1 choice in the fifth race over the 550 yds trip raced ahead from the turn for home to score by a length and a quarter from Laughil Lad in 31.29.Trainer Nuala Lynch sent out Killoe Jet to win the eight race over the 525 yds course. Always in command he had an easy length and a half victory over Trims Star in 30.01.The Denis Hannon (Athlone) owned Springwell Edge topped the market at 4/6 to do the business in the ninth race over the sprint distance. Soon in control from his trap two draw he increased on this advantage to score by seven lengths from Take and Go in 21.75.Fahy Queen completed a double for trainer Paddy McCormack when she stayed on best to win the tenth race by a length and a half from the odds on favourite Dartrey Fantasy in 31.52 over the 550 yds trip.Knocknalyre Jack completed the nights action when he gave a trap to line display to win the eleventh race by a length and a quarter from An Loiste Gorm in 30.10. The winner is owned by Joe Rigney jnr (Cork) and is trained by Tommy Bolton.ResultsThursday February 26th, 2009525 1st: Turn on Catunda 2/1 Joe McKenna, Delvin 29.98525 1st: Ardera Tammy 6/4 Paddy McCormack, Rhode 29.91400 Dead: Big Punter 5/2 Noel Carry, KellsHead: Lowtown Serenade 2/1 Michael Kenny, Naas 22.31525 1st: Royal Flame 1/1 Oliver Bray, Navan 30.51525 1st: Tied Cottage 3/1 Kevin Mallon and Pat Lynch, Navan 30.18525 1st: Crinkill Lilly 5/2 Ms. Kelly Milne, Birr 30.25525 1st: Daraghose 2/1 Pat Harnett, Navan 30.18525 1st: Glencon 6/4 Liam Kirley, Geashill 29.66525 1st: Ardera Dilemma 1/1 Paddy McCormack, Rhode 29.91525 1st: Royal Rocket 1/1 Oliver Bray, Navan 29.58400 1st: Lingaun Splasher 3/1 Joseph Kennedy, Tipperary 22.00525 1st: Glen Eorna 4/5 Tom Kirley, Dublin 29.83Saturday February 28th, 2009600 1st: Ardavagga Dazl 5/2 Sean O"Meara, Birr 34.26525 1st: Bombay Blonde 5/4 Joe Gavin, Mullingar 30.28525 1st: Clonarrow Rocket 6/4 P.J. Rigney, Offaly 29.75525 Dead: Lady Rhythm 5/4 Frank Seery, MullingarHeat: Hanstown Vieri 3/1 John Byrne, Dysart 30.56550 1st: Piladica 4/1 D.D.P.M. Syndicate, Carbury 31.29805 1st: Summerfield Gift 5/2 Liam Carr, Clare/Galway 47.30805 1st: Pretty Nicola 4/1 Ms. R & Mrs B. Carberry, Meath 46.99525 1st: Killoe Jet 3/1 Ms. Yvonne Malone, Tullamore 30.01400 1st: Springwell Edge 4/6 Denis Hannon, Athlone 21.75550 1st: Fahy Queen 4/1 Paddy McCormack, Rhode 31.52525 1st: Knocknalyre Jack 2/1 Joe Rigney, Cork 30.10